President Trump’s surprise decision last December to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria concretely raised the possibility that he could do the same in South Korea.

It showed his determination to reduce America’s military exposure abroad, even against resistance in his own administration. Secretary of Defense James Mattis saw himself forced to resign. National security adviser John Bolton tried to attach delaying conditions to the withdrawal, but was soon rebuked by defense officials: “Nothing has changed. We don’t take orders from Bolton.”  

Trump has expressed clear interest in withdrawing U.S. troops