The US will reduce maneuvers in South Korea because Seoul did not help them in the Iran war

WashingtonFirst was the withdrawal of the THAAD anti-aircraft defense system – which has a deterrent function against North Korea – and now, the reduction of joint military exercises by the US and South Korean armies. Donald Trump announced this Monday that the Pentagon will reduce the maneuvers it conducts annually on South Korean territory, in response to the "Seoul's refusal to help him in the Iran war. The US president also mentioned his "good relationship" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un as one of the reasons.

In a post on Truth Social, the US leader announced that he had ordered Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth to "substantially" reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, as they are too costly for the Pentagon and "send a completely inappropriate and hostile signal" towards North Korea. In his opinion, he added, Pyongyang has not been a threat and has shown respect while he has been in charge of the White House. "It is too late to cancel them," he said, referring to the maneuvers, which just began this Monday. Last Friday, the North Korean regime expressed its displeasure at the conducting of joint military exercises, which it described as "a rehearsal for an aggressive war," and warned that it would take action against the US and South Korea, although it did not specify what.

The South Korean government has reported that military exercises have begun as planned this Monday, but it remains apprehensive about the direction everything is taking with the American president. Trump is distancing himself from his historical ally in Asia and, instead, is giving oxygen to North Korea, despite Pyongyang having accelerated its production of missiles and nuclear armament since the diplomatic schism between Trump and Kim Jong-un in 2019. No matter how much the Republican says Pyongyang has been "respectful," North Korea has done nothing but bare its teeth at its neighbor South Korea in recent years. Furthermore, Kim Jong-un has signed a mutual defense treaty with Moscow and has sent soldiers and armament to the Russian front against Ukraine.

North Korea has also accelerated its rearmament with the aim of achieving concessions from the US in future negotiations. A scenario that increasingly seems viable for Pyongyang thanks to the precedent that Tehran has created and Trump's own contribution to undermining South Korean security.

The withdrawal of the THAAD system from South Korea already caused serious tensions with Seoul, as it was the only missile shield the Pentagon had permanently deployed in the area, along with the one in Guam. The US military borrowed the South Korean THAAD shortly after the military campaign against Iran began, as it needed to strengthen THAAD systems in the Middle East against attacks from the Persian country. The situation in this region, however, has only worsened: the Pentagon has already exhausted 80% of THAAD and Patriot ammunition reserves. According to South Korean media, the Pentagon also transferred Patriot batteries to the Iranian front that were initially intended for the South Korean army.

This move generated concern in the Seoul government and once again cast doubt on Washington's word as a reliable ally. Beyond creating a new vulnerability for the country, the South Korean government was left with the unknown of whether the anti-aircraft defense system will return home once the war in Iran ends.

With Trump's military distancing from South Korea, it's adding insult to injury. Last year, the Republican was harsh on the Asian country when applying tariffs, with initial rates of 25% for South Korean imports.