[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Overseas US Troops Indicate Reduction of US Forces in Korea

Appearance of US Forces Korea (Photo by Asia Economy DB)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] As rumors of U.S. troop reductions in South Korea resurface, military experts are urging close attention to the movements of U.S. forces stationed overseas. This sheds light on why the phrase 'maintaining the current level of U.S. forces in South Korea' was omitted from the joint statement of the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between South Korea and the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Defense is emphasizing the expansion of rotational deployments and strengthening strategic flexibility. This is why the U.S. is conducting adjustments aimed at optimizing troop levels across all combatant commands, including the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, European Command, and Africa Command.

Strategic flexibility stems from the 'Dynamic Force Employment (DFE)' concept introduced by the Donald Trump administration. The DFE concept is an evolution of the 'Global Defense Posture Review (GDPR)' concept introduced by the George W. Bush administration in 2004. It involves withdrawing forward-deployed forces in Europe and other regions back to the U.S. mainland and operating forces globally based on rotational deployments and strategic flexibility from the U.S. mainland.

The adjustment process has become a reality. The Trump administration's first move was to reduce U.S. forces in Germany. Approximately 12,000 troops were cut by relocating 5,600 troops stationed in Germany to other parts of Europe and returning 6,400 troops to the U.S. Additionally, the U.S. European Command, which has been stationed in Stuttgart, Germany since 1967, will move to Belgium, and the Africa Command will relocate to another part of Europe. The F-16 fighter wing will be moved to Italy. The Stryker Brigade and the 2nd Armored Brigade were returned to the U.S. to be held as rotational forces.

The reason the U.S. chose Belgium as the new location for the European Command is that the 10 former Warsaw Pact member countries, which had aligned with the former Soviet Union, have joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Therefore, there is no longer a reason to insist on Germany. Additionally, Belgium hosts the European Union (EU) headquarters. In 2018, despite opposition from EU member states, the next-generation fighter was selected as the U.S. F-35 rather than the European-made Eurofighter, which also played a role.

Some speculate that if Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who emphasizes 'strengthening alliances,' wins the U.S. presidential election in November, the U.S. military's strategic flexibility might be reconsidered. However, the prevailing assessment is that the long-standing U.S. strategic flexibility will continue.

If strategic flexibility is applied, there is also discussion about not deploying the follow-on units of the U.S. Army 1st Division 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team. This could result in a practical reduction effect. The 2nd Armored Brigade, which was deployed to South Korea through Gwangyang Port in Jeollanam-do last February, is scheduled to complete its nine-month duty and return to Fort Hood, Texas next month. There are also expectations that strategic weapons could be withdrawn from U.S. Forces Korea. This implies a possible reduction in the size of the 7th Air Force, the Air Force Command at Osan Air Base, which operates U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, RC-7B reconnaissance aircraft, and A-10s.

Shin Jong-woo, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum (KODEF), said, "This year, the multiple launch rocket system unit stationed in Germany moved to Estonia, close to Russia, and conducted its first live-fire exercise, indicating that the operation of U.S. forces is shifting towards a more pressure-oriented concept. Since U.S. forces in South Korea are also highly likely to be operated under strategic flexibility, they are expected to transform into a concept that responds to threats in the Asia-Pacific region."