U.S. Senate defense policy bill calls for maintaining USFK troop level

A U.S. defense spending bill for next year recently passed by the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee prevents the Pentagon from withdrawing American soldiers stationed here in South Korea in the absence of congressional approval.

Lee Seung-jae has details.

For the first time in five years, the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2026 fiscal year, includes a ban on using funds to reduce the number of U.S. Forces Korea troops below the current level of 28-thousand-500.

The U.S. defense policy bill was posted on Congress's website on Thursday, where it affirmed the reinforcement of the ROK-U.S. alliance by maintaining the current USFK troop level.

The bill reads "Amounts authorized to be appropriated by this Act may not be obligated or expended to reduce the total number of members of the Armed Forces permanently stationed in or deployed to the Republic of Korea below 28,500, or to complete the transition of wartime operational control of the United States-Republic of Korea Combined Forces Command from United States-led command to Republic of Korea-led command."

However,.. the NDAA leaves open the possibility of using defense funds for a USFK reduction or OPCON transition if it is in the national security interest of the United States, adding that the action could only be undertaken after proper consultations with its allies,.. including South Korea, Japan and other countries that have sent military contributions to the UN Command.

The ban was previously included in the NDAA from the 2019 to 2021 fiscal years, to prevent any potential unilateral reduction during the first Trump administration.

However, it was removed from the bill during former President Joe Biden's term in office.

It's the first time that the Senate added a ban on the use of funds for the completion of wartime OPCON transfer.

The latest bill comes amid speculation that the Trump administration could reduce the number of USFK, and ask Seoul to increase spending for its own defense.

Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.