Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Department of Defense's Under Secretary for Policy, is set to visit South Korea beginning Sunday and continuing through Tuesday, before continuing on to Japan, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. The focus of Colby's meetings with South Korean officials is expected to revolve around advancing the bilateral military alliance, including prospective enhancements in military collaboration and Seoul’s planned increase in defense expenditure.
While the South Korean Defense Ministry has refrained from confirming these visits directly and advised that related inquiries be addressed to U.S. authorities, the visit underscores ongoing dialogues concerning the strategic partnership between the U.S. and its East Asian allies. Colby serves as the principal architect of U.S. defense and foreign policy implementation, overseeing key strategic decisions.
The meetings will likely engage topics such as South Korea's intention to elevate its defense budget and ongoing initiatives to modernize the joint military alliance. These discussions occur amid broader U.S. initiatives spearheaded during the Trump administration, notably advocating for allied nations to assume a greater share of the financial burden for their own defense capabilities.
South Korea currently hosts approximately 28,500 U.S. military personnel, a deployment primarily designed to counterbalance North Korea’s military provocations. In this context, Seoul has increased its defense budget by 7.5% for the current year. Additionally, South Korea is advancing plans for constructing its own nuclear-powered submarines, a maritime development that has received endorsement from former President Trump.
This strategic reorientation and collaborative military development signal continued emphasis on sustaining and upgrading defense postures in the region, responding to evolving security challenges and shifting global military priorities.