U.S. Army General Xavier Brunson, who leads American forces in South Korea, reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to deterrence and readiness during a Seoul ceremony marking the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Brunson addressed roughly 180 attendees — including former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Ambassador Michelle Steel — at the FKI Tower Conference Center on September 17, 2026. He stated that USFK, United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command “remain fully committed to maintaining deterrence, sharpening joint readiness and securing peace across the peninsula, Northeast Asia and in this free and open Indo-Pacific.”

His remarks followed Washington’s decision to scale back the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise. The drills, which traditionally run through late August, concluded on August 21, six days early, after President Donald Trump described them as “substantially” reduced. The reduction was framed as a cost-saving measure and part of broader efforts to recalibrate military posture.

The South Korean Marine Corps had previously announced the cancellation of its participation in the biennial Ssangyong amphibious exercise, citing strain on U.S. forces due to operations in the Middle East. Brunson did not directly reference those cuts but emphasized the alliance’s seven-decade history of “sacred bond forged on the battlefield and shared sacrifice,” calling it “more vital, more resilient” than ever.

The speech came as North Korea continued missile testing. On September 15, Pyongyang launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan, continuing a pattern of launches that began eight days earlier with a coordinated drill described by Pyongyang as preparation for counterstrikes.

Rice, speaking at the same event, noted that the U.S.-South Korea partnership has expanded beyond security to include deep economic integration, while warning of emerging threats such as regional conflict and nuclear proliferation. She affirmed that the allies would confront these challenges together.

Ambassador Steel described the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea as “the foundation of our alliance,” adding that “our shared sacrifice is not history — it remains the bedrock of our alliance today.”

The dinner honored Korean War veterans and brought together military leaders, government officials and business executives from both nations. Ambassador Steel was nominated to her post by Trump in April 2026.

Brunson’s statement underscored a continued emphasis on readiness despite reduced training scope, reflecting a strategic shift rather than a change in alliance priorities.