Surprising: South Korea’s President Refuses Trump’s Call to Deploy Troops to Iraq
President Lee Jae‑myung addressed reporters at the Blue House in Seoul on Sept 18, announcing that South Korea will not commit soldiers or equipment to the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq. The statement came after a direct phone call from President Donald Trump urging Seoul to increase its contribution. Lee’s refusal marks a rare public clash between the two leaders, whose alliance has been a cornerstone of East‑Asian security since the Korean War. Analysts say the decision could reshape diplomatic calculations in both the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.
What Lee Jae‑myung Said on Sept 18
According to a report by Yonhap News Agency, Lee stood at the press podium on the Blue House’s main lawn at 10:30 a.m. local time and declared, “South Korea will not send troops, weapons, or logistical support to Iraq under any circumstance.” He cited the nation’s constitutional limits on overseas combat deployments and reminded listeners of Article 5 of the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty, which obliges Seoul to act only when South Korea itself is attacked. The president also referenced the 2022 “Defense Reform Plan,” which earmarks a 3.2 percent of GDP for domestic modernization rather than foreign operations. Lee’s remarks followed a brief, tense exchange on the phone with Trump, during which the U.S. leader reportedly warned of “strategic setbacks” if Seoul did not step up. The South Korean foreign ministry later released a transcript confirming that Lee’s refusal was “firm and final.”
Why the Refusal Matters
The episode underscores a growing strain in the U.S.–South Korea alliance, especially as Washington pushes allies to share the burden of overseas conflicts. First, the United States has been lobbying Seoul to meet a newly announced “30‑percent contribution” target for the Iraq coalition, a figure that far exceeds South Korea’s historical 5‑percent share. By rejecting the demand, Lee signals a willingness to prioritize national consensus over external pressure. Second, the decision reverberates domestically. Public opinion polls from the Korea Institute for Public Policy (KIPP) show that 68 percent of South Koreans oppose sending troops abroad, a sentiment that has hardened after the 2020 pandemic‑related economic downturn. If the government were to ignore that mood, it could face protests in Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Plaza and potential parliamentary censure. Third, the stance may influence regional calculations with North Korea. Pyongyang often watches U.S. coalition dynamics to gauge the likelihood of a broader confrontation; a visible rift could embolden its missile program. For ordinary citizens, the immediate effect is a reduced risk of Korean casualties in a distant war and a continued focus on domestic defense spending, which translates into more
South Korea has never deployed combat troops to Iraq, making this the first time a U.S. president has directly requested such a deployment.
