The US president has ordered the Pentagon to considerably scale back joint navy workout routines with Seoul
US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to considerably cut back joint navy workout routines with South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean chief Kim Jong-un.
In a Truth Social publish on Sunday, Trump mentioned he was “not happy” that Washington had agreed to participate within the annual workout routines, that are as a consequence of start on Monday.
“These exercises are not only costly, with much of these costs paid for by the United States of America (as usual!), but send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile,” he wrote, describing North Korea as “unthreatening and respectful” throughout his presidency.
Trump mentioned it was too late to cancel the drills outright and had due to this fact instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to “substantially reduce” them.
The 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield workout routines have been scheduled to run by means of August 27, with round 18,000 South Korean and roughly 5,000 US troops anticipated to participate.
Trump additionally took a swipe at Seoul over its refusal to hitch Washington’s marketing campaign in opposition to Iran.
“I recently asked the President of South Korea if they would like to join us in the Denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!'” he wrote.
(RT.com)