[Defense](/Politics/Defense)
Allies maintain defense ties but trade tensions escalate over imminent tariffs
Members of South Korea's Army Special Warfare Command board an MC-130 airplane during the 2024 Freedom Shield exercises with the U.S. in Seongnam, South Korea, last March. © Reuters
STEVEN BOROWIEC
SEOUL -- The South Korean and U.S. militaries announced major joint exercises on Thursday, at a time of high geopolitical tensions and leadership transitions in both countries.
Troops from the two nations will hold the annual Freedom Shield drills from March 10 to 20, executing "combined joint all-domain live field training exercises across the land, sea, air, cyber and space domains," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said.