{"id":40123,"date":"2020-07-21T13:17:30","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T13:17:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/21\/esper-no-orders-issued-to-remove-forces-from-south-korea\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:39:22","slug":"esper-no-orders-issued-to-remove-forces-from-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/07\/21\/esper-no-orders-issued-to-remove-forces-from-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"Esper: \u2018No orders\u2019 issued to remove forces from South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. defense secretary said Tuesday he has not issued orders to remove American forces from South Korea, but he did leave the door open for such a move in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark Esper, speaking at an event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, also said America remains steadfast in its support of Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week, the Wall Street Journal<\/a> reported that the Pentagon was drawing up plans to reduce the U.S. presence in South Korea below the current level of 28,500 personnel. A similar situation, which played out earlier this year, has resulted in a planned removal of 9,500 American troops from Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump first raised the idea of moving troops out of South Korea during his 2016 campaign<\/a> for president, and the idea has percolated<\/a> throughout his time in office. As with other spots around the globe, Trump has expressed a desire to see South Korea pay more to house troops and has threatened to remove forces if Seoul does not do so. The two countries are in ongoing negotiations, with South Korea arguing that its arms procurement<\/a> from American companies should be factored into its accounting.<\/p>\n\n\n\t