Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, often referred to as Trump’s national security advisor, is set to visit South Korea for a two-day trip starting on Sunday. His visit is expected to focus on explaining the new U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) and seeking cooperation from South Korean officials.
During his stay until Tuesday, Colby will meet with key figures in South Korea’s diplomatic and security apparatus. These high-level discussions are likely to center around the National Security Strategy (NSS) released last December and the recently unveiled NDS.
While the NSS provides a broad framework for diplomacy and security, the NDS offers more specific military guidelines. Notably, the NDS, released just a day prior, asserts that South Korea has developed the capacity to take a leading role in deterring North Korean aggression. It also strongly emphasizes the need for South Korea to bolster its conventional deterrence capabilities.
This stance has sparked discussions about potential shifts in U.S. Forces Korea’s strategic posture, including changes to troop levels and composition. These developments are expected to influence ongoing talks about the transfer of wartime operational control, a key initiative of the South Korean government.
During his visit, Colby is expected to engage in wide-ranging discussions with South Korean counterparts on critical issues, including increasing South Korea’s defense budget, preparations for the transfer of operational control, and the potential development of nuclear-powered submarines. Analysts suggest that these talks will likely reflect the Trump administration’s emphasis on allies taking greater responsibility for their own defense and increasing their share of defense costs.
Sources indicate that Colby’s itinerary includes a visit to Camp Humphreys, the sprawling U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek.
Following his engagements in South Korea, Colby is scheduled to travel to Japan, where he is expected to underscore the importance of trilateral security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.