The Pentagon Denies Rumors of Possible Troop Withdrawals from South Korea: U
S. Stance In response to widespread media reports and assumptions about a potential scenario of downsizing the American military contingent in South Korea, Pentagon officials officially stated that such plans are currently not being considered and that they have no intention of withdrawing U.S. forces from South Korea. This statement came in reply to massive rumors and insider reports that began circulating in the media and political circles in the United States late last week. Source: The Hill portal, as well as U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Shawn Parnell, who, in a post on the X social network (formerly Twitter), refuted claims regarding possible reductions in the American military presence in South Korea. According to him, "reports of a reduction in the number of U.S. troops in the Republic of Korea are false," and any such rumors are unfounded. In an interview, he emphasized that: "Reports that the Department of Defense plans to decrease the number of troops in South Korea are false. The DOD team continually reviews the deployment of its units, but at present, the U.S. remains committed to its alliance commitments. Our alliance with South Korea is unwavering, and no decisions regarding military presence have been made or are planned for the near future." These official statements emerged amid ongoing discussions about the future nature of U.S. military presence in the region, especially following last year's agreement between Washington and Seoul on a five-year defense cost-sharing plan. South Korea agreed to new financial obligations regarding U.S. troops on its territory but later expressed dissatisfaction with the deal, with President Donald Trump insisting that the country should increase its share of the costs for hosting American military personnel. Trump has periodically raised issues related to financial terms, commenting that South Korea should pay more for the technical upkeep of U.S. forces, and even suggested that decisions about U.S. troop deployments should be negotiated as part of trade talks. He has emphasized that the U.S. bears significant costs for military presence in Europe, and similar steps should be taken in the Asia-Pacific region. Specifically, on April 9, he stated at the White House: "We pay substantial sums for the presence of our troops in Europe and Asia, and right now, we need to determine what responsibilities South Korea should assume regarding defense costs." Additionally, media reports have begun circulating that the Trump administration is considering reviewing the deployment of U.S. forces, including possible withdrawal from South Korea and redeployment to regions in the Indo-Pacific, particularly Guam. Obviously, these speculations have caused concern in the White House and regional capitals, as American troops play a key role in ensuring security in this strategically vital region, especially considering the ongoing challenge posed by North Korea and the growing competition between the U.S. and China. Currently, despite numerous discussions and political statements, the official position of the Pentagon remains unchanged — any ideas of withdrawing troops from South Korea are not being considered at this time, and the U.S. seeks to maintain its close alliance with the country, which is fundamental to regional stability. This official statement serves as a clear signal to both domestic and international actors that the issue of military presence and regional security remains a priority for the U.S. administration, and any decisions will be carefully weighed in the interest of alliance security.