![World’s strongest naval military, U.S. suddenly cancels South Korea drills for a crucial reason as China keeps military exercises going with Egypt [Image Credit: Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/d83383914d604ccc5349c668bd1caa90.jpg)
The U.S. has cancelled a major joint military exercise with South Korea, citing troop constraints linked to the ongoing war in Iran.
- The U.S. cancelled major joint military exercises with South Korea due to troop constraints linked to the ongoing war in Iran.
- The decision includes the cancellation of the ‘Ssangyong’ amphibious landing drill, with no immediate plans to reschedule.
- President Trump also reduced the scale of the annual ‘Ulchi Freedom Shield’ drill, citing costs.
- Meanwhile, China and Egypt began high-profile joint air force drills, aiming to strengthen military ties and regional cooperation.
While U.S. and South Korea adjust their training plans, Beijing is moving forward with its own high-profile joint military exercises alongside Cairo.
U.S. cancels joint marine exercises due to Iran war
In a sudden shift, the U.S. cancelled next month’s scheduled division-level joint amphibious landing drill with South Korea, known as the “Ssangyong” exercise.
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According to a South Korean Marine Corps spokesperson, the U.S. Marine Corps formally warned its allies in June that its forces would be constrained due to the war in Iran.
A spokesperson for South Korea’s Marine Corps noted that while “the allies remain in close consultations on resuming the drills,” they did not outline specific plans to make up for the lost training.
U.S. President Trump scales back training over costs and regional tension
This cancellation comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a reduction in a separate joint annual military drill, called “Ulchi Freedom Shield,” which concluded last Friday.
President Trump cited the high costs of the drills and South Korea’s decision not to participate in the Iran war as key reasons for his order.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, President Trump explained that the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises sent “a signal that was totally inappropriate and hostile, to a Country that, as long as Donald J. Trump has been President, has been unthreatening and respectful“.
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Reuters reported that North Korea, which views these drills as invasion rehearsals fired 10 short-range ballistic missiles last week.
China and Egypt push forward with joint air force drills
While the U.S. scales back its presence in East Asia, China is strengthening its military ties with Egypt through a new round of joint training exercises.
The bilateral drills, named Eagles of Civilization 2026, are taking place in Egypt from mid-August through early September.
According to China’s Ministry of National Defense, the training focuses on air combat tactics, air superiority operations, combat search and rescue, and joint force deployment.
Chen Xi, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, stated that “the joint training will further enhance mutual trust and traditional friendship, deepen substantive cooperation between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, and contribute to regional peace and stability“.
