USFK Eyes South Korea as 'Regional Sustainment Hub' to Speed Up Military Repairs
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is working to establish South Korea as a 'regional sustainment hub' for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of U.S. military assets, according to USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson. In a written document submitted to U.S. Congress on April 23, Brunson highlighted South Korea's defense industry as a key asset to expedite repairs and reduce logistical delays across the Indo-Pacific theater.
"USFK, supported by partners from Department of State, our military services and industry, is establishing a regional sustainment hub in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command," Brunson said in the document, as reported by Yonhap News.
Brunson emphasized the need to prepare for "competition, crisis, or conflict," citing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and technological innovations that have made supply lines more vulnerable to disruption. He described South Korea's defense industrial base as "one of the finest military production capabilities in the world" and argued that leveraging it could mitigate the "tyranny of distance" across theaters.
Leveraging Decades of Experience
South Korea has conducted depot-level maintenance on U.S. fighter aircraft and other common platforms since 1978, including F-16 and F-15 fighters, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. In recent years, the country has expanded its MRO services to U.S. maritime assets, Patriot missile defense batteries, and T-55 aircraft engines, according to Yonhap.
The U.S. Department of Defense outlined plans in 2024 to adopt a "regional sustainment framework" that would utilize MRO capabilities from partner nations rather than returning assets to the U.S. mainland for major repairs. This aligns with USFK's current initiative.
Commanders Push for Modernized Alliance and 'East-Up' View
In a separate development, Brunson spoke at a symposium at the U.S. Army War College on May 5, where he stressed the importance of an "east-up" perspective in the Indo-Pacific theater. He proposed rotating the conventional map view to highlight the strategic alignment of South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. According to the USFK website, Brunson described the Pacific not as an empty expanse but as a "coherent strategic geometry" anchored by U.S. and allied positions.
The remarks come as Washington seeks to modernize its alliance with South Korea, expanding the role of the 28,500-strong USFK forces beyond the defense of the Korean Peninsula and encouraging Seoul to take on a greater share of its own security burden.
"In Korea, we have that presence. We aren't projecting power. Our alliance is our power," Brunson was quoted as saying. He also underscored the importance of land power for its "precision and persistence" compared to air power, which can strike targets but cannot occupy ground. "The soldier always stays," he said.
Key Claims
- USFK is establishing a regional sustainment hub in South Korea to support the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, according to a statement by Gen. Xavier Brunson reported by Yonhap.
- South Korea has conducted depot-level maintenance on U.S. fighter aircraft and other platforms since 1978, with recent expansion into maritime and missile defense systems, per Yonhap.
- The U.S. Department of Defense adopted a "regional sustainment framework" in 2024 to outsource major repairs to partner nations, as disclosed in that year's policy announcement.
- Brunson advocates an "east-up" strategic view emphasizing alliances with Japan and the Philippines, as reported by the USFK website.
- The alliance modernization seeks to broaden USFK's role beyond peninsular defense, a position attributed to Washington's current policy direction.
Perspectives
- USFK perspective: Gen. Brunson positions South Korea as a critical hub for maintaining U.S. readiness, highlighting the country's industrial strengths and the need for resilient supply chains.
- South Korean perspective: Yonhap's coverage frames the announcement positively, emphasizing South Korea's role as a valued ally and its advanced defense industry.
- Strategic analyst perspective: The 'east-up' concept signals a shift in regional strategic thinking, potentially raising questions about broader U.S. alliances and force posture in Asia.