Seoul rattled by threat to drills at heart of US-Korean alliance
- Posted on August 17, 2026
- By Financial Times
- 2 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
The South Korean government faces growing concerns following Trump's unexpected calls to scale back joint military exercises with the United States, a cornerstone of their defense partnership. The former president's simultaneous praise of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has intensified anxiety in Seoul about the stability of their strategic alliance. These developments signal potential shifts in US-Korea security cooperation and raise questions about deterrence capabilities on the Korean Peninsula.
Summary auto-generated by AI from the original publisher's content. Editorial standards.
Seoul rattled by threat to drills at heart of US-Korean alliance
Donald Trump’s eleventh-hour demand to ‘reduce’ annual exercises and praise of Kim Jong Un unsettles ally
