Trump’s snub of South Korea sends region scrambling
Concerns about the Trump administration’s reliability are prompting allies and partners to pursue more independent defense strategies that limit their dependence on the U.S.
The Trump administration's decision not to honor joint military exercises with South Korea has prompted its allies in Asia to reassess their dependence on the United States for defense and to explore other partnerships. President Trump has announced that he will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year, which has further unsettled the region.
Asian diplomats and others familiar with discussions among regional governments suggest that countries are accelerating their defense spending and forging alternate alliances in response. While U.S. defense technology remains the best, the cost and upkeep of maintaining these relationships may not be economically or logistically viable for some nations.
The action against South Korea stems from a separate conflict with Iran, and its impact extends beyond Korea to the entire Indo-Pacific region. Asian countries are questioning the stability of their relationship with the United States and are investing more in self-defense to reduce their reliance on Washington.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
