Seoul: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed strong support for South Korea's initiative to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, describing the move as "great" and emphasizing the importance of a security partnership that does not solely rely on U.S. leadership during contingencies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Hegseth made these remarks during a press meeting aboard a plane en route to Malaysia. He was responding to a question regarding South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration's goal to reclaim wartime OPCON within its current five-year term ending in 2030. Hegseth highlighted the long-standing alliance between the two nations and the significance of South Korea's increased defense spending in light of persistent threats from North Korea.
Hegseth commended South Korea as a "combat credible" partner, emphasizing the need for allies to assume more significant security responsibilities. He noted that South Korea's willingness to take the lead in security matters mirrors the U.S. approach toward its European partners. The OPCON transfer is expected to be a focal point in upcoming discussions between South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Hegseth during their annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul.
Observers have noted that the Trump administration might support the idea of Seoul leading wartime scenarios as part of a broader strategy to encourage allies to bear a greater share of their defense burdens. The U.S. and South Korea have been working on a conditions-based OPCON transition since South Korea handed over control during the Korean War and retook peacetime control in 1994, while wartime control remains under U.S. jurisdiction.
During the press meeting, Hegseth dismissed reports suggesting the Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy might exclude South Korea and Taiwan from its defense line. He also clarified that the Trump administration is not seeking to form a multilateral alliance similar to NATO in the Indo-Pacific region, instead focusing on bilateral and trilateral relationships based on mutual interests.
Hegseth addressed speculation surrounding the U.S. defense strategy's focus on China, stating that recognizing the need to focus on the U.S. homeland does not detract from countering China as a pacing threat. He assured that the upcoming national security strategy would clarify any mischaracterizations.
Hegseth's Asia trip includes visits to Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea, signaling continued U.S. engagement in the region's security dynamics.