Overview
- Army Gen. Xavier Brunson published an essay on the USFK website urging planners to rotate East Asia maps east-up to reveal operational advantages for the United States and allies.
- He argues that U.S. forces in South Korea are already inside the defensive perimeter rather than a distant trip-wire, citing Camp Humphreys’ proximity to Pyongyang, Beijing and Vladivostok.
- Brunson highlights a Korea–Japan–Philippines strategic triangle, and in written replies to Korean media he described complementary roles: Korea’s central depth, Japan’s technology and maritime reach, and the Philippines’ access to southern sea lanes.
- Coverage in South Korea notes mixed public reaction, with reassurance about U.S. commitment alongside concerns that Seoul could be drawn deeper into competition with China and Russia through expanded multilateral cooperation.
- A Yonhap editorial links the reframing to recent U.S.–ROK understandings on higher defense outlays and a multi‑year USFK funding pledge, and it underscores that no formal U.S. policy change has been announced even as regional tensions shape the discussion.