Trump orders cut to South Korea drills and moves carrier to Middle East

President Donald Trump posted on social media that the Pentagon should "substantially reduce" joint military exercises with South Korea, citing cost, the perception it sends to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and South Korea’s refusal to join a proposed denuclearization effort in Iran. The same weekend, the U.S. Navy moved the aircraft carrier USS George Washington from Japan to the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has been operating near Iran for an extended period.

Analysts note that the redeployment leaves the Asia-Pacific region without a U.S. carrier for the first time since 1944, reducing the United States’ ability to project naval power in the area. Phillips P. O’Brien, a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews, described the situation as "the end of an era" in his newsletter.

The decision follows Trump’s claim of a "very good relationship" with Kim Jong-un and his criticism that the joint drills are "costly," although previous Pentagon estimates placed the cost of such exercises at around $14 million in 2018. By comparison, the Department of Defense has requested $37.5 billion from Congress for operations related to Iran.

South Korean officials have indicated that the United States’ redeployment of certain defense systems, such as the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), reflects U.S. security priorities, while South Korea maintains its own deterrent capabilities. The president’s reference to a denuclearization agenda in Iran was also questioned, as recent U.S. strikes have targeted a range of Iranian sites unrelated to its nuclear program.

The moves have been interpreted by observers as a shift in U.S. strategic focus toward the Middle East, raising questions about the implications for allies in East Asia.