South Korea and the United States continue to strengthen their Alliance to ensure security in the Indo-Pacific, with tactical exercises as well as strategic planning.
In February 2026, the two nations teamed up for multiple exercises as part of their ongoing combined training: Early in the month, U.S. Army aviators conducted combined day and night air assault maneuvers with Republic of Korea (ROK) Army units near Seoul, using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, according to the website Military Periscope. Operating from Sungnam (Seoul Air Base), crews worked alongside ROK ground and special operations forces, rehearsing operations in darkness, with limited communications, and over challenging terrain, emphasizing speed, coordination, and precision when inserting troops into confined urban and mountainous landing zones.
The second exercise, Buddy Squadron, took place at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, around 65 kilometers south of Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported. That exercise involved ROK KF-16 and U.S. F-16 fighter jets, along with F-35A and FA-50 fighter aircraft. During the bilateral exercise, which is held several times each year, the two nations conducted maneuvers aimed at enhancing interoperability and readiness. Buddy Squadron is “an opportunity for South Korean and U.S. pilots to share the latest tactics, fly together and strengthen interoperability,” ROK Air Force Capt. Lee Seung-Hyun said, according to the Stars and Stripes website.
In late February through early March, ROK forces participated in the annual exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand, which is hosted by Thailand and the U.S. and includes personnel and equipment from 10 countries. The ROK Navy and Marine Corps joined Allies in drills to strengthen security and prepare for a number of threats, including natural disasters and cyberattacks, according to the Thai news website The Nation.
Aside from training exercises, ROK and U.S. defense leaders continue to strengthen their Alliance at the strategic level.
South Korea and the U.S. are also working to enhance their combined sustainment capabilities, which they agreed is a key factor in maintaining security amid evolving threats.
The two nations are also working together on production of nuclear-powered submarines. South Korea’s government announced in November 2025 that it had finalized an agreement with the U.S. to build the ships. Seoul and Washington are negotiating security-related issues, including rights for uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing.
The goal is to strengthen security on the Korean Peninsula amid persistent North Korean threats. The U.S. has affirmed its commitment to providing extended nuclear deterrence to South Korea and pursuing North Korea’s denuclearization, according to Yonhap News Agency. “There has been no change in our real belief and real efforts to promote extended nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula,” U.S. State Department spokesperson Mignon Houston told Yonhap. “Our policy, as it relates to a complete denuclearization of North Korea, has not changed.”