Donald Trump has said the United States will reduce the scale of its military drills with South Korea after Seoul declined to support Washington’s recent military effort in Iran.
The decision affects a defence partnership involving joint exercises between American and South Korean forces. Trump linked the planned reduction to South Korea’s refusal to assist the US campaign in Iran, indicating that Seoul’s position had influenced Washington’s approach to the drills.
No further details were set out on which exercises would be affected, when the reduction would take place, or how extensive the changes would be. The material available also did not include any response from the South Korean government.
The announcement points to a strain in the military relationship between the United States and South Korea following Seoul’s decision to stay out of the Iran conflict. The latest known position is that Trump has said the US will cut back the joint drills, with the practical impact and any diplomatic follow-up not yet specified.
