US "No Reduction of USFK"... Easing Allies' Concerns over Afghanistan Situation (Comprehensive)

White House National Security Council Advisor "Different from Afghanistan Situation"
Emphasizes Taiwan Support and Attempts to Alleviate Alliance Concerns
Biden Talks with UK Prime Minister "Discussing Afghanistan Crisis at G7 Summit"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The White House has moved to dispel concerns about alliance neglect triggered by the Afghanistan situation.

On the 8th, a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter belonging to the United States Forces Korea was flying around the shooting range to conduct firing training at Suseong Shooting Range in Janggi-myeon, Nam-gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor at the White House, said at the White House daily briefing on the 17th (local time), "As President Joe Biden has repeatedly stated, there is no intention to reduce U.S. troops stationed in South Korea or Europe."

Sullivan's remarks were in response to a question asking whether President Biden's statement the previous day about not sacrificing U.S. troops where it is not in America's national interest included U.S. forces in South Korea.

He emphasized that South Korea and Europe have long maintained U.S. troop deployments to protect alliances against external enemies even during times without civil war, making their situations completely different from Afghanistan, where troops were stationed to prevent terrorism.

Regarding whether the Afghanistan situation could apply to Taiwan, Sullivan said, "Taiwan and Afghanistan are completely different issues," adding, "I believe commitments to allies and partner countries must not be violated."

The day before, President Biden sparked controversy by stating that the U.S. would not fight where it has no interests, in response to the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Following this statement, concerns grew over the Biden administration's foreign policy, which has emphasized active interventionism over the isolationism of the Trump administration, under the slogan "America is back."

In particular, worries intensified about the possible withdrawal of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea amid tensions with North Korea, as well as the potential cessation of U.S. support for Taiwan amid escalating U.S.-China conflicts.

As alliance instability spread, the U.S. and UK leaders held a phone call on the same day and agreed to discuss the Afghanistan issue at the upcoming G7 virtual summit next week. This is the first time President Biden has discussed the Afghanistan situation with foreign leaders.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.