'USFK Reduction Difficult'... US Congress Discusses Amendment to Strengthen Government Reporting Obligations

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Amid U.S. President Donald Trump's recent announcement to withdraw some U.S. troops stationed in Germany and redeploy them to Poland, the U.S. Congress is reportedly discussing amendments to make it more difficult to reduce U.S. forces stationed in South Korea and Africa, according to the political news outlet The Hill on the 25th (local time).

According to the report, Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, included in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) an "attached opinion" requiring the Department of Defense to report to Congress on the effects, impacts, and cost estimates of reducing U.S. troops in Africa on military, diplomatic, development, and human rights efforts in the region. Furthermore, if troop levels fall below 80% of the current stationed forces, a report on the reduction's effects must be submitted within 90 days.

The Hill explained, "The House Armed Services Committee's annual defense policy bill aims to put up a firewall against reductions of U.S. forces in South Korea and Africa." Considering President Trump's recent announcement to withdraw troops from Germany, which faced strong bipartisan opposition in Congress, this is interpreted as an additional obstacle to decisions on withdrawing overseas U.S. forces.

The NDAA, passed by both the Senate and House at the end of last year and signed by President Trump, focuses on setting the U.S. defense budget. However, it explicitly prohibits using funds to reduce the size of U.S. forces. While the NDAA has already set some barriers against reducing U.S. forces in South Korea, it appears intended to make the reduction process for other overseas U.S. forces, including those in South Korea, more difficult.

Additionally, The Hill noted that although the chairman's attached opinion does not mention U.S. troops in Germany, it is highly likely that the House Armed Services Committee will amend the bill when reviewing it next week.