US Army deactivates reconnaissance squadron in South Korea amid speculation of troop drawdown: Report

By Anadolu staff

A US Army squadron tasked with a reconnaissance mission in South Korea was deactivated last month, fueling speculation over a possible adjustment of Washington’s force posture on the Korean Peninsula, local media reported Friday

According to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the 5th Air Cavalry Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (5-17 ACS) at Camp Humphreys, a key US base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, ceased operations on Dec. 15, according to Yonhap News Agency.

It had supported the US Army’s 2nd Infantry Division since May 2022.

The report comes amid concerns that US President Donald Trump’s administration could consider reducing the 28,500 US Forces Korea (USFK) troops to better align resources for countering China in the region, according to the report.

The 5-17 ACS was known to include hundreds of personnel and key aviation and reconnaissance assets, including AH-64E Apache helicopters and RQ-7B Shadow drones.

It remains unclear whether the unit’s personnel and equipment will be withdrawn or replaced by another formation.

There was no immediate reaction from the US army to the latest report.

South Korea is one of the US’s oldest and closest allies, hosting around 28,500 American soldiers on the Korean Peninsula.