Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
Former US Commander Says Post-Transfer Command Structure May Be Suboptimal
Former US Forces Korea commander Paul LaCamera warned that the combined command structure may be less than optimal after wartime operational control transfers.
The transfer would change how South Korean and US forces are commanded in wartime.
LaCamera said the structure may still be suboptimal when combat begins, even at the level the two sides can agree on.
He said it would be optimized only after fighting starts.
He warned that forces must adapt to survive under the system.
The comments highlight concerns about how the allies would coordinate command during a conflict.
Two former U.S. Forces Korea commanders warned that South Korea’s planned wartime operational control transfer could weaken the alliance and military effectiveness if the allies do not preserve a strong combined command structure.
Retired Gen. Walter Sharp questioned whether the future Combined Forces Command would remain genuinely bilateral after the transfer.
Retired Gen. Paul LaCamera said the allies might agree to a command arrangement that is not optimal and would need to adapt once fighting begins.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s administration wants to retake operational control before its term ends in 2030.
The United States has expressed reservations about rushing the handover for political reasons.
- Who
- Retired U.S. generals Walter Sharp and Paul LaCamera raised concerns about the command structure after the transfer.
- What
- They warned that the planned wartime operational control transfer could weaken the alliance and military effectiveness if a robust combined command structure is not preserved.
- When
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.
- Where
- An online symposium hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies.
- Why
- They questioned whether the future command arrangement would remain genuinely bilateral and effective in a conflict.
South Korean administration
United States
Timing
South Korean administration
The Lee administration wants to retake wartime operational control before its five-year term ends in 2030.
United States
The United States has expressed reservations about rushing to complete the handover for political considerations.
Former USFK commanders raised concerns at an online symposium about the command structure after a potential wartime operational control transfer.
The Lee administration aims to retake wartime operational control before its five-year term ends.
- Speakers
- Retired Gen. Walter Sharp and retired Gen. Paul LaCamera
- Event
- Online symposium hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies
- South Korean target
- Retake wartime operational control before 2030
- Command at issue
- South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command
2 sources
What people are saying
That whole combined nature goes away and ... I really do see it as a doorway to greatly reducing the alliance, greatly reducing our work with Korea
My guess is we will probably make it suboptimal because that is what we can agree to
It will be suboptimal when the fighting starts, and then we will quickly get to optimization because it is adapt or perish