Trump Cuts Ulchi Drills; Seoul Says They Proceed

President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills with South Korea, citing cost and his stance toward North Korea. Seoul says the exercises will proceed as scheduled, despite the U.S. move reflecting wider tensions and misalignment on regional security priorities, including Iran. The drills are described as designed to bolster readiness against North Korean threats and involve thousands of South Korean and American personnel, with potential participation by NATO and UN allies. North Korea has intensified cooperation with Russia amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine and has repeatedly condemned the exercises as provocative, complicating inter-Korean and U.S.-South Korea dynamics. Public protests in Seoul and debate over the alliance’s future have intensified as Trump’s position diverges from traditional allied coordination. Analysts say the move could signal a broader realignment of U.S. security diplomacy in East Asia, and ongoing questions about burden-sharing and regional tensions persist.