PoliticsTrump’s cut to joint drills gives South Korea’s president what he wanted. So why is Seoul uneasy?

Donald Trump’s last-minute decision to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea appears to advance President Lee Jae Myung’s goal of easing tensions and reopening dialogue with North Korea. But opposition politicians and conservative media warn that it weakens deterrence and leaves Seoul sidelined in decisions affecting its security, deepening doubts about Washington’s reliability.

US-South Korea drillsSouth Korean politicsKorean Peninsula securityDonald Trump

People in this report Donald Trump

TThe Guardian★★★★☆2026-08-19 05:40Original