Trump administration weighs pulling thousands of U.S. troops from South Korea

The Pentagon is reportedly developing a proposal to withdraw around 4,500 U.S. troops from South Korea and redeploy them elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing unnamed officials.

The plan is part of a broader informal policy review concerning North Korea and has not yet reached President Donald Trump's desk. It is one of several options under discussion by senior administration officials.

The U.S. currently maintains approximately 28,500 troops in South Korea. Trump previously considered altering this presence during his first term, questioning the financial burden and strategic necessity.

Military leaders, however, have cautioned that a drawdown could undermine the U.S.’s ability to respond to threats from North Korea, China, and Russia. In April, Indo-Pacific Command warned that reducing forces could jeopardize U.S. strategic advantages in the region.

Officials say no final decisions will be made until there is more clarity regarding the trajectory of Russia’s war in Ukraine and whether continued military aid to Kyiv will be maintained under a Trump administration.

The WSJ notes that while a partial withdrawal from the Korean Peninsula may raise concerns, redeploying troops to Guam could mitigate some risks. Guam is emerging as a critical hub for U.S. military operations, strategically located near regional flashpoints while remaining less vulnerable to direct attacks by China.

The long-standing U.S. military presence in South Korea has served as both a deterrent against aggression on the Korean Peninsula and a counterbalance to Chinese ambitions in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.