On the 16th, U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed from Rhode Island expressed that the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea is receiving bipartisan support.
Chairman Reed said this during an interview with Asia Today at the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Award Group & Winner Reception held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. He stated, “I have never heard any discussions within the U.S. administration or Congress regarding any reduction or withdrawal of U.S. forces in South Korea,” when asked about the role of Congress if the U.S. President attempts to reduce or withdraw troops stationed in South Korea.
◇ U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed stated, “I have never heard any discussions within the U.S. administration or Congress regarding any reduction or withdrawal of U.S. forces in South Korea.”
When asked again about the possibility of reducing or withdrawing U.S. troops in South Korea, referencing former President Donald Trump’s indication, Chairman Reed emphasized, “In that sense, President Joe Biden must succeed in his re-election.”
Chairman Reed, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, has served three terms as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and three terms as a U.S. Senator since 1996. He has spearheaded bipartisan passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) throughout his tenure. During the Trump administration in 2019, the NDAA included provisions to prevent the use of funds necessary to reduce the number of U.S. troops in South Korea below the current level of 28,500. This provision has been maintained through the 2024 fiscal year.
However, reduction may be considered feasible provided it aligns with appropriate consultations with allies such as South Korea and Japan and with national security interests.
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