August 17, 2026
Trump Orders Exercises with S. Korea be Downsized
Timothy Birdnow
Looks like Trump has had enough of fair-weather friends. The President has ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to scale back military exercises with South Korea in an epic shift in American policy.
AS the President points out, he's had no trouble with North Korea and One Ton Son, that guy who resembles Mr. Chao from
the movie The Hangover only much chubbier, Kim Jong Un. But he also points to another reason:
"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, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful."
[...]
"While somewhat unrelated (?), 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!’ Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
I suspect the latter was the clincher; it is the Trump Doctrine to not be taken advantage of by our erstwhile "allies". In recent years South Korea has been less than helpful towards us and now they are about to learn what it means to treat us with no respect.
So Mr. Trump ordered Sec War Pete Hegseth to scale back on these exercises, the point of which was always to intimidate the Norks.
I think Trump is also trying to de-escalate in the Pacific Rim in general so he can concentrate on Iran. And perhaps it is a subtle warning to China that we are refocusing and that now all those ships that would have been up there around South Korea and Japan will be able to redeploy to the South China sea.
Any way you slice it this is a major break with past U.S. policy and we are witnessing an historic realignment in international geopolitics. Trump no longer acts unilaterally on issues so much as asks for aid from our allies and if it is not given then he re-evaluates our alliances. What are their purposes, after all? We make them for our own interests and protection, not solely for THEIR benefit. Trump is treating our allies like adults and they don' t like it.
In ten years the world is going to look very different than it does now. Trump is a transformational President, no question. Let's hope he's successful and knows what he is doing.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at
08:27 AM
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I have no direct evidence, but I know the US Navy pretty well and I strongly suspect that the real reason is simply availability of ships. The resources of the fleet are seriously strained by the war in the Middle East, and we don't have the number of ships to be playing games in the Pacific when so many are needed in the Med and Persian waters.
Posted by: Bill H at August 17, 2026 09:11 AM (FRG6e)
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Trump sending a message to the wannabe socialist govt of South Korea if you dont help us stuff it when you need our help. Dont take Trump literally, take him seriously. Lil Kim watched as some of his top line troops were turned into pink mist and the smart ones who could dessert ed in Ukraine. Maybe he is seeing the light in his old age.
Posted by: Mike at August 17, 2026 06:55 PM (8k65J)
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Makes sense Bill. And naturally Trump isn't going to say that out loud - he dare not let our enemies know it.
Yeah Dana; maybe Kim is gaining some wisdom as he ages.
Yeah Dana; maybe Kim is gaining some wisdom as he ages.
Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at August 18, 2026 07:17 AM (oflqW)
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