Pentagon Denies Troop Withdrawal Claims

This past Friday, the Pentagon responded to a report from the Wall Street Journal suggesting that the Trump administration is contemplating the withdrawal of thousands of American troops from South Korea, labeling the report as “untrue.”

On Thursday, the Journal reported that the Department of Defense was considering relocating approximately 4,500 troops to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, such as Guam, citing a source familiar with the discussions.

This proposal was allegedly mentioned to President Trump during an informal review of U.S. policy regarding North Korea and is just one of multiple ideas being explored, according to two officials.

However, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, firmly stated, “We insisted that DOD would report reducing US troops in South Korea. It’s not true.” He also noted the ongoing evaluation of U.S. military presence, asserting, “The US is firmly committed to Korea. Our alliance is covered in iron.”

Additionally, South Korea’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Friday that there had been no discussions between Seoul and Washington regarding troop withdrawal.

Currently, around 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, working closely with forces from Japan and the Philippines to deter threats from North Korea and a more assertive China.

Last year, Seoul and Washington established a five-year plan to share defense costs, although there have been complaints about the financial burden of hosting U.S. military personnel. Trump previously suggested that ongoing trade negotiations could help offset these costs.

He mentioned, “We pay to the US military in Europe, but we don’t get much refunds. South Korea will also be refunded,” during comments to White House reporters on April 9.

During his first term, Trump reportedly pressured Seoul to increase its financial contributions for U.S. troops significantly, increasing demands to even 400% at one point.

Many U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific would likely express concerns over the potential troop withdrawal. General Xavier Branson, the U.S. commander in South Korea, warned last month about the implications of such a move.

At an April 10 hearing, he stated, “They are important elements of ballistic missile defense in the area. Reducing their strength is a problem.”