President Donald Trump's decision to reduce the scope of joint military exercises with South Korea has drawn criticism from foreign policy experts and lawmakers who argue it undermines a key U.S. ally and potentially jeopardizes American security interests in Asia.
The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which began Monday, were scaled back at Trump's direction. The president cited South Korea's reluctance to join U.S. actions against Iran and his perceived positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as reasons for the decision.
This approach, described as transactional and personal, has defined Trump's presidency. "There is no American interest that I can see in this," said Dan Fried, a former assistant secretary of state. "On all levels it makes no sense. It undermines the South Koreans, undermines the Japanese, frightens the Taiwanese, unnerves NATO and emboldens the Chinese, not to mention the North Koreans."
Danny Russel, former assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific, characterized Trump's action as "firmly in the ‘hard-to see-how-it-could-be-worse’ category." He added, "It is tragically upside-down. Trump is punishing an ally while encouraging an adversary... He is protecting Kim Jong Un’s sensitive feelings from an unfriendly signal at the expense of U.S.-South Korean security."
The move baffled many in South Korea, a decades-long ally of the U.S. that prioritizes national security due to threats from North Korea. It also drew immediate criticism from many Democrats in Congress.
"Treating one of America’s closest allies like an adversary weakens our alliances and benefits China and North Korea," stated Rep. Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Trump further emphasized his stance by posting a photo of Kim Jong Un on Monday with the caption: "HEY DONALD ... WE COOL, RIGHT?"
Retired U.S. Ambassador Robert Wood emphasized the importance of the joint military exercises in deterring North Korea, which has accelerated weapons testing and shunned talks with the U.S. over its nuclear program. "We also don’t want South Korea to draw the conclusion that a nuclear weapons capability is the only guarantee it has to ensure its security," Wood said.
Matthew Kroenig, who has served in defense and intelligence roles, noted that polls indicate growing support in South Korea for developing its own nuclear weapons. "The United States has been working really hard to try to persuade South Korea that they are protected," Kroenig said. "Scaling back the exercises potentially undermines that message."
Prior to the decision, South Korean officials had reportedly sought to strengthen ties with the U.S. administration, with new President Lee Jae Myung praising the Oval Office decor and affirming Trump's assertions about North Korea's nuclear ambitions during a meeting with Trump. Trump had also appeared sympathetic to Lee's predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol.
Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, suggested that Trump's actions might lead allies to reconsider their security arrangements without U.S. support. "They are hoping that the American umbrella is there for the future, but they have to at least contemplate the idea that Uncle Sam won’t be there for them."
While Kupchan acknowledged that allies like South Korea and European nations should contribute more to their defense, he criticized Trump's unpredictable approach for eroding alliance solidarity. Fried echoed this sentiment, suggesting Trump struggles to acknowledge successes after pressuring allies to increase defense spending. "It’s like he wants to burn it all down," Fried commented.
John Herbst, a former ambassador to Ukraine, described the decision as indicative of the Trump administration's policy inconsistency. However, he noted that the U.S. has generally maintained its long-term alliances. "If these things grow in frequency and in importance, obviously we will be in the process of taking apart the alliance system, which has served us so well since the end of World War II," Herbst said.
Despite the president's rhetoric, Kupchan pointed out that America's forward bases and core alliance relationships remain intact for now. The long-term impact of Trump's message to South Korea remains uncertain, with Kroenig suggesting that the situation could change quickly given Trump's unpredictability.