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Snapshot 4:Mon, Aug 17, 2026 4:40:11 AM GMT last edited by Mr Bot

Trump directs Hegseth to reduce US joint exercises in South Korea

Trump directs Hegseth to reduce US joint exercises in South Korea

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The Spin


Cutting joint military drills with South Korea is a smart diplomatic play, not a retreat — it signals that U.S. alliances come with real expectations. South Korea needs to step up on shared threats like Iran and denuclearization instead of free-riding on American military presence. Trump's direct engagement with North Korea opens doors that decades of stale exercises never could.

Scaling back military exercises with South Korea because of a "good relationship" with Kim Jong Un is a dangerous trade — North Korea still has nukes, backs Russia's war in Ukraine and actively threatens U.S. allies. Undermining a 75-year alliance over a diplomatic brush-off pushes South Korea and Japan toward building their own nuclear arsenals. The long-term damage to American credibility in Asia could be irreversible.


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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.4.1

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.4.1