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Home / Asia / Donald Trump’s cuts to South Korean military drills stir doubts about U.S. resolve in Asia
Asia

August 18, 2026

Donald Trump’s cuts to South Korean military drills stir doubts about U.S. resolve in Asia

Many defence experts oppose the reduction in joint exercises with Seoul, but Jennifer Kavanagh, a military analyst at Defense Priorities, a think-tank, said the U.S. was too stretched globally and should urge allies to do more to defend themselves.

“The U.S. shouldn’t fight a war with North Korea for South Korea,” Kavanagh said. “I would rather have the U.S. pushing South Korea to do more to fight itself. I don’t see cancelling exercises as pulling the rug out from under them. It is a signal that they need to start moving more quickly to increase their own defence.”

Read at Financial Times

Featuring

Jennifer
Kavanagh

Senior Fellow & Director of Military Analysis

Defense Priorities

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