UAE President Sheikh Mohamed receives phone call from Donald Trump
The two leaders both agreed to continue to cooperate closely over the regional challenges currently facing the Middle East region.
Severe cuts to the ongoing South Korea-U.S. military exercise, known as Ulchi Freedom Shield, have sparked an outcry from two bipartisan senators. In a letter directed at President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) urged the administration to reconsider the decision.
The senators emphasized that reversing the cuts is crucial to preserving the readiness of the U.S.-ROK alliance. They pointed out that North Korea remains technically at war with South Korea, and Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program continue to develop, making it imperative to maintain joint exercises. The senators highlighted that North Korean troops have gained combat experience supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, which could make North Korea more dangerous to U.S. forces and allies.
They further stressed that deepening ties between North Korea and Russia and China are reinforcing an anti-U.S. alignment. In light of these developments, the senators argued that joint exercises are essential to sharpen allies' military capabilities and maintain their deterrence posture. This sentiment is echoed by Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), who criticized the decision to scale back UFS, stating that it would be a betrayal of a democratic ally and undermine America's credibility in the Indo-Pacific.
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