Seoul: South Korea's defense ministry announced that it has not engaged in discussions with the Pentagon regarding a potential reduction of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) troops stationed in South Korea. This statement follows a report by The Wall Street Journal which suggested that the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is contemplating the withdrawal of approximately 4,500 troops, equating to 16 percent of the 28,500-strong USFK, and relocating them to other areas within the Indo-Pacific, such as Guam.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the report, citing defense officials, indicated that this proposal is part of an informal policy review for consideration by the U.S. president as a strategy to address issues with North Korea. The South Korean defense ministry emphasized the crucial role of the USFK in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the surrounding region by upholding a robust combined defense posture to deter North Korean aggression.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with the United States to further enhance this defense alliance. A Pentagon spokesperson informed Yonhap News Agency that there are no official policy announcements regarding any potential reduction of USFK troops at this time.
This development arises amidst speculation that Washington might pursue "strategic flexibility" of the USFK to expand its role in countering China's increasing assertiveness, rather than focusing solely on the threat from North Korea. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the formulation of the Pentagon's 2025 National Defense Strategy (NDS), emphasizing increased "burden-sharing" with allies and countering threats from China in the Indo-Pacific region.
The final version of the NDS is expected to be submitted to Secretary Hegseth by August 31, with speculation that it may also propose increasing South Korea's financial contribution for hosting the USFK on the Korean Peninsula. In October, South Korea and the United States signed a new five-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA), effective until 2030, under which Seoul will pay 1.52 trillion won (approximately $1.1 billion) next year for the maintenance of the USFK, marking an 8.3 percent increase from 2025.
During his presidential campaign, Trump described South Korea as a "money machine" and claimed that Seoul would be paying $10 billion annually for the USFK's presence had he been in office. Since 2008, the USFK has sustained a troop level of 28,500 across various components, including the Eighth Army, the Seventh Air Force, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, and the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea.