US reaffirms ‘unwavering’ defense commitment to South Korea amid troop drawdown concerns

The Pentagon has declined to comment on any potential changes to US troop levels in South Korea, while emphasizing Washington’s firm commitment to its ally, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday.

The remarks of a senior Pentagon official come amid renewed speculation about a possible reduction of the roughly 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea, following comments by US President Donald Trump that his administration is reviewing troop levels in Germany.

“The Department does not comment on potential force posture adjustments. US forces in Korea remain focused on deterrence and readiness,” the agency quoted a Pentagon official as saying, reaffirming that the alliance with South Korea remains central to regional stability.

“Our commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea is unwavering,” the official added, using South Korea’s formal name.

Concerns about a potential troop drawdown have resurfaced periodically, particularly as Washington and Seoul discuss modernizing their alliance to address evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Analysts suggest such discussions could eventually lead to adjustments in troop deployments for greater operational flexibility.

Earlier reports had suggested the US was considering relocating thousands of troops from South Korea to other regional bases, including Guam, although the Pentagon previously denied those claims.