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The question is in the title. Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma is the following (according to the Wikipedia entry):

For every $\epsilon \gt 0$ and positive integer $m$ there exists an integer $M$ such that if $G$ is a graph with at least $M$ vertices, there exists an integer $k$ in the range $m \le k \le M$ and an $\epsilon$-regular partition of the vertex set of $G$ into $k$ sets where a partition of the vertex set $V$ of $G$ into $k$ sets $\mathcal P = \{V_1,\dotsc, V_k\}$ is called an $\epsilon$-regular partition if

$$\sum_{(V_i, V_j)} \lvert V_i\rvert\lvert V_j\rvert \le \lvert V(G)\rvert^2$$ where $(V_i, V_j)$ is not $\epsilon$-regular.

I conjecture that Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma is equivalent to $\mathit{ACA}_0$ over $\mathit{RCA}_0$ on the basis of the information contained in the MathOverflow question, "The Reverse Mathematics of writing a set as a union" (question 71420). This is because the Regularity Lemma is an instance of the Union Principle and the Union Principle is equivalent to $\mathit{ACA}_0$ over $\mathit{RCA}_0$.

Is this point of view correct, or am I missing something?

[Addendum. It should be noted that the Wikipedia entry, "Elementary Function Arithmetic", makes the the claim that that Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma is a "natural example" of an "arithmetical statement" that is "true but unprovable in EFA, $\ge$". Furthermore, the paper, "The Algorithmic Aspects of the Regularity Lemma" (by Alon, Duke, Lefmann, Rodl, and Yuster), claims that "we show how to obtain, for any input graph, a partition with the properties guaranteed by the lemma, efficiently [in polynomial time ($\Delta^{p}_1$)—my comment]" while claimimg that the problem of "deciding if the given partition[s] [of the partition given by the aforementioned algorithm—my comment] is $\epsilon$-regular" is "co-NP-complete"[$\Pi^{p}_1$]. Certainly, neither of the claims take the proof of Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma out of $\mathit{RCA}_{0}$ but are the two subsystems of $\mathit{RCA}_{0}$ mentioned in this addendum the same subsystem? Lastly, in the paper, "Reverse Mathematics and Recursive Graph Theory" [by Gasarch—my comment], it is claimed that the theorems regarding sequences of graphs in the paper are equivalent to $\mathit{ACA}_{0}$ or higher [Theorem 20 claims that the sequence of graphs mentioned in the theorem is equivalent to $\Pi^{1}_{1}$-$\mathit{CA}_{0}$. Isn't Szemerédi's Regularity Lemma a statement about the sequence of all finite graphs and as such possibly equivalent to $ACA_{0}$?]

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    $\begingroup$ If memory serves, the usual proof of Szemeredi actually goes through in $\mathsf{RCA_0}$ alone (and Friedman conjectures that Szemeredi is equivalent to EFA over bounded arithmetic). Certainly since Szemeredi is about finite graphs, it has nothing to do with $\mathsf{ACA_0}$; it's already going to be provable in $\mathsf{I\Sigma_n}$ for some fixed $n$ (and I suspect $n=1$ is already enough). $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 6, 2022 at 6:09
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks. Will correct. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 3, 2022 at 22:42
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    $\begingroup$ @LSpice: please do. Thanks. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 3, 2022 at 22:58
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    $\begingroup$ Done. $\endgroup$
    – LSpice
    Commented Jul 3, 2022 at 23:04
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    $\begingroup$ Szemerédi's lemma is a purely first-order arithmetical statement, and as such it cannot imply ACA_0 over RCA_0. Moreover, if it is provable in ACA_0, then it is provable in PA by arithmetical conservativity, and therefore (as Noah already mentioned) in $I\Sigma_n$ for some $n$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 5, 2022 at 20:28

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