US troop cuts in Korea back on the table as Pentagon weighs Indo-Pacific shift

Plan to relocate forces to Guam signals focus on Taiwan, China—and renewed cost-sharing pressure on Seoul

The Trump administration is weighing a plan to pull thousands of U.S. troops out of South Korea and redeploy them elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific, including Guam, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing multiple defense officials. The proposal, still in the early stages of internal discussion, would affect roughly 4,500 of the 28,500 American troops currently stationed on the peninsula.

The move is being considered as part of an informal North Korea policy review and has not yet reached President Donald Trump’s desk, officials said. The White House National Security Council told WSJ it remains committed to “the complete denuclearization of North Korea.” When asked by The Chosun Ilbo, a Pentagon spokesperson said there was “nothing to announce today.”

Soldiers cross a joint floating bridge after completing a combined river-crossing drill at Seogeunso training ground near the Imjin River in Yeoncheon, South Korea, on March 20, 2025. The exercise, part of the first half of the 2025 South Korea-U.S. combined training, involved about 600 troops from South Korea’s 5th and 7th Engineer Brigades, the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division, and the combined division./Newsis

Even a partial U.S. drawdown would send shockwaves through the Indo-Pacific, where countries like Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea rely on American security guarantees amid growing tensions with China and North Korea. The WSJ noted that a decision isn’t expected until the administration clarifies its stance on continued military support for Ukraine.

While the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) calls for maintaining the current 28,500-troop presence in South Korea, the language is nonbinding—giving Trump wide latitude to act unilaterally. On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump repeatedly described South Korea as a “wealthy country” and questioned why the U.S. should continue footing the bill for its defense. “We want South Korea to treat us properly,” he said at the time, strongly suggesting that a failure to significantly boost defense cost-sharing could trigger troop cuts.

Inside the Pentagon, the proposal is being framed not as a retreat, but as part of a broader realignment to counter China—particularly in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly drafted interim guidance prioritizing homeland defense and Taiwan deterrence, while encouraging regional allies to take more responsibility for local threats, including North Korea.

That shift aligns with the thinking of Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy overseeing the forthcoming National Defense Strategy. Colby has long argued that Seoul should shoulder more of the conventional defense burden against the North. While he opposes a full U.S. withdrawal, he supports repositioning forces to better counter China, with South Korea leading efforts to deter Pyongyang’s artillery and missile threats.

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 4, 2025. During the speech, Trump named South Korea as one of the countries taking advantage of the United States and emphasized the large amount of U.S. military support provided to Seoul./Reuters-Yonhap

During his first term, Trump floated the idea of cutting troop levels in Korea but was ultimately persuaded otherwise by aides. He also used the threat of reduced military commitments to press Seoul for steep increases in host-nation support payments. The latest report comes just weeks before South Korea’s new administration takes office, setting the stage for a familiar dynamic: Washington linking defense cost-sharing to broader trade pressure.

Last month, Trump mentioned in a call with then-Acting President Han Duck-soo that he had discussed “payments for the massive military protection we provide South Korea.” Sources in Seoul now expect the incoming administration will face U.S. demands on multiple fronts—tariffs, trade, and now potentially troop levels.

Senior commanders in the region have warned against any hasty reduction. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in April that a drawdown “would be problematic,” while Indo-Pacific Command head Adm. Samuel Paparo warned it could embolden Pyongyang.

Still, the WSJ report noted that relocating troops to Guam—closer to potential flashpoints and harder for China to strike—might help address some Pentagon concerns. Guam has increasingly become central to U.S. force posture in the region.

Kim Seon-ho, acting South Korean defense minister, attends a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, Seoul, on May 13, 2025./Presidential Office Press Corps

With tensions high and diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang long stalled, analysts say Trump could again use troop levels as leverage to draw Kim Jong-un back to the negotiating table. During his first term, Trump scaled back joint military drills with South Korea after summits with Kim, citing North Korea’s complaints.

For now, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense is stressing continuity. “There have been no discussions on troop withdrawals,” it said in a statement. “U.S. forces in Korea have served as a core element of the alliance and a key deterrent against North Korean aggression. We will continue close cooperation with the U.S. to ensure that role continues.”