S. Korea downplays USFK reduction talk after Trump’s troop cut hint in Germany

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters during his meeting with NASA's Artemis II astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen at the White House in Washington, Wednesday (local time). AP-Yonhap

U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion that American troop levels in Germany could be reduced is fueling speculation the move might extend to the Korean Peninsula.

However, defense experts are not convinced the remarks will lead to troop cuts in South Korea, instead pointing to the peninsula’s growing strategic importance — as reflected in the U.S.' latest defense strategy aimed at countering China — and the likelihood of restructuring rather than a reduction.

Some 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed across South Korea.

On Wednesday (local time), Trump said on Truth Social that the United States is weighing a possible reduction of American troops in Germany, with a decision to be made over "the next short period of time," after he decried European allies over a lack of support for the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Lee Sang-kyu, chief of the nuclear security research division at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, said any meaningful change to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) would require revisions to operational plans and mission objectives — neither of which appears to be underway.

“In my assessment, there will be no impact on USFK,” Lee told The Korea Times.

“Changes in force structure would necessitate adjustments in operational planning, but there is no indication that such changes are currently being considered.”

Kim Yeoul-soo, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Military Affairs, stressed that the context of U.S. troop deployments in Europe differs significantly from that in Northeast Asia. According to Kim, the strategic environment surrounding South Korea and Japan is fundamentally distinct, noting that the latest U.S. defense strategy announced early this year prioritizes homeland defense first, followed by the Indo-Pacific region and then Europe.

“Within that framework of the recent U.S. defense strategy, U.S. forces in Korea and Japan become even more critical,” Kim said. “Given the emphasis on deterring China along the first island chain, it is unlikely that Washington would consider withdrawing troops from South Korea.”

A Chinook helicopter takes off at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, July 29, 2025. Yonhap

Still, some experts suggest that while a full-scale reduction is improbable, adjustments in force composition cannot be ruled out.

Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, pointed to a broader shift in U.S. military strategy toward efficiency and rapid-response capabilities.

“The United States is moving away from maintaining large, inefficient ground forces and instead focusing on agile, quickly deployable units,” Hong said. “This has long been part of the discussion, both for U.S. forces in Germany and those stationed in South Korea.”

Hong added that in the context of countering China, the strategic value of maintaining large-scale ground troop deployments is diminishing. Instead, the focus is shifting toward networked forces capable of rapid response, precision strikes and flexible deployment.

“This does not necessarily mean a reduction in overall presence,” he said. “But it could entail restructuring. For example, replacing traditional ground units with more mobile formations such as Stryker brigades.”

Addressing the growing speculation, Korea’s Ministry of National Defense sought to reassure the public. During a regular briefing on Thursday, ministry spokesperson Chung Binna said that there have been no discussions between Seoul and Washington regarding any USFK reductions.

“The primary mission of U.S. Forces Korea is to maintain a robust combined defense posture with the South Korean military to deter and respond to North Korean aggression. We will continue close consultations with the United States to ensure the stable presence of USFK and to further strengthen our joint defense system," Chung said.