Trump's Slight of South Korea in Favor of the North Raises Broader US Security Concerns
Trump said he ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut the 11-day drills as critics warned the move could weaken deterrence against North Korea.
- On Sunday, August 16, President Donald Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce U.S. participation in the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea, which began Monday as scheduled.
- Trump cited South Korea's refusal to assist in the U.S. war against Iran as justification for the reduction, while emphasizing his personal rapport with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
- Danny Russel, a scholar at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the move is "firmly in the 'hard-to see-how-it-could-be-worse' category," arguing Trump is "punishing an ally while encouraging an adversary."
- Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council warned that scaling back the exercises "potentially undermines that message" regarding U.S. commitment to protecting allies in the region.
- Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations described Trump's unpredictable approach as "it's like he wants to burn it all down," raising concerns that allies may pursue independent security without U.S. protection.
34 Articles
34 Articles
The US wants to reduce the joint military exercises with South Korea. Both the population and the politics in South Korea are concerned because the security situation in East Asia could deteriorate.
In South Korea, the reduction of US military exercises revives doubts about Washington's engagement. A concern that extends to the whole of the Indo-Pacific while American power is being sought on many fronts.
My Mother Lode
Trump’s slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea does not just slight a longtime ally but raises broader concerns about the security interests of the United States in Asia and elsewhere. Trump explained his decision by citing South Korea’s refusal to join his war against Iran and...
Associated Press News
Trump's slight of South Korea in favor of the North raises broader US security concerns
President Donald Trump’s decision to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea does not just slight a longtime ally.
Trump lashes out at South Korea over its refusal to join Iran war
Exercises between the American and South Korean militaries began as scheduled on Monday, even after President Trump demanded they be scaled back. Trump said the war games were unnecessarily provocative, and a challenge to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite recent praise of South Korea by the administration. Nick Schifrin reports.
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