23.05.2025 11:48
It has been claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to withdraw 4,500 of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea and redeploy them to the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam. The South Korean Ministry of Defense expressed its concerns regarding the matter and stated that they would cooperate with the United States.
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As North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula and its surroundings, a critical claim regarding the region's security has emerged.
According to reports in the US press, it was stated that the administration of US President Donald Trump plans to withdraw 4,500 of the 28,500 US soldiers stationed in South Korea, which is approximately 16%, and redeploy them to other areas in the Indo-Pacific, including Guam. It was reported that this plan is part of an unofficial policy review prepared by the Trump administration regarding North Korea.
SOUTH KOREA: WE WILL CONTINUE COOPERATION WITH THE US
The South Korean Ministry of Defense made a statement regarding the news that has caused concern in the Seoul administration. It was stated that there have been no discussions with the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) regarding this claim, and it was emphasized that "the US Forces Korea (USFK), which is the core strength of the South Korea-US alliance, has deterred North Korea's invasion and provocations by demonstrating a solid joint defense posture with our military, contributing to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region. We will continue to cooperate with the US side to move forward in this direction."
TRUMP HAD DESCRIBED SOUTH KOREA AS A "CASH COW"
US President Donald Trump described South Korea as a "cash cow" in a statement made during the presidential race in October. Trump had stated that if he became president, South Korea would pay $10 billion annually for the US soldiers stationed in the country.
When asked last month whether there was a plan to reduce the number of US soldiers in Europe, Trump responded, "We are covering our military expenses in Europe. We are not getting much reimbursement. It's the same in South Korea."
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