US forces in South Korea on regional agile combat mission with joint drill in Singapore

Dedicated to defending Seoul from Pyongyang, the USFK does not usually operate outside the Korean peninsula

Analysts say the deployment reflects the US push for greater interoperability in Asia as part of a bid to deter China from a possible conflict

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US F-16 fighter jets on their way to take part in the Commando Sling 23 joint military exercise with Singapore in November. Photo: US Indo-Pacific Command

Published: 6:00am, 10 Dec 2023

The US will increase cooperation between its troops stationed in the Indo-Pacific and other militaries to deter armed conflict with China in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, analysts said.

The assessment after the US Air Force in South Korea attended joint military exercises in Singapore for the first time in five years.

According to the US Forces Korea (USFK), six F-16 fighter jets along with 90 aircraft maintainers from the American base in Osan, south of Seoul, were sent to Singapore to take part in a three-week annual joint military exercise.

It said the Commando Sling 23 drills, held from November 6-24, enabled the US and Singaporean air forces to “build aerial communication, evaluate tactics, increase interoperability, and improve alliance capability”.

“Bilateral training provides Osan pilots, maintenance personnel and other supporting professionals opportunities to engage with and learn from our allies,” said US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Cory Ferrer, commander of the 36th Fighter Squadron based in South Korea.

“When we go to exercises such as Commando Sling, we practise combat agility while demonstrating the strength and necessity of partnerships.”