U.S. Military's Strategic Move: Transforming South Korea into a Key Regional Sustainment Hub

Minah Kim | 2026.04.24

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Brunson, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea[Yonhap file photo][Yonhap file photo]
U.S. Forces Korea has designated South Korea as a Regional Sustainment Hub and will expand logistics cooperation to accelerate maintenance support across the Indo-Pacific. On April 22, Javier Brunson, commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, told a U.S. congressional hearing in written testimony that U.S. Forces Korea is moving forward with the Regional Sustainment Hub to support U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Brunson said lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza show supply chains are more vulnerable to disruption, and he stressed that prepositioning operational support in advance of crises or conflicts is critical. He called South Korea’s defense industrial base world-class and said partnering with Korean firms for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) could significantly reduce distance-related sustainment challenges across the theater. U.S. aircraft such as F-16 fighters, C-130 transports and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters have long received upgrades and maintenance in South Korea. Officials say they plan to apply that model more broadly—working with South Korean defense companies to maintain U.S. naval vessels, Patriot air-defense missile batteries and unmanned systems in-country. Washington and Seoul are reportedly already engaged in detailed talks on Patriot system sustainment and support. Brunson added that cooperation with Korean defense firms will require close coordination between the U.S. State and Defense Departments and urged Congress to grant special repair authorities. The Pentagon earlier announced the Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF), a policy to partner with regional allies to service U.S. weapons and facilities forward-deployed around the world. Some analysts say the move appears aimed at expanding sustainment hubs across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen deterrence against China in a possible Taiwan contingency. #USForcesKorea #JavierBrunson #CongressionalHearing #KoreanDefenseIndustry #MRO #RegionalSustainmentHub #RSH #Patriot #Drones #DeterringChina Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23 Kim Mina (goldmina@yna.co.kr)
Minah Kim

Minah Kim

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