US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea, a decision lawmakers have called 'inane' and 'shortsighted,' according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea.
- The order came days after North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles, according to the Guardian.
- Trump justified the decision by citing his 'very good relationship' with Kim Jong-Un.
- A top Democrat said the move was meant to 'flatter' North Korea's leader.
- Lawmakers warned the decision risked strengthening Russia's hand in Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump has moved to scale back Washington’s long-standing military alliance with Seoul, prompting sharp criticism from lawmakers, according to the Guardian. The president abruptly ordered the Pentagon to reduce joint exercises with South Korea, a step critics described as damaging to a partnership that has stood for 73 years.
The order came just days after North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles, the Guardian reported. Such joint exercises between the United States and South Korea are intended to deter exactly the kind of threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear-armed leadership.
Trump justified the decision by citing his ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong-Un, the nuclear-armed dictator whom the exercises are designed to deter, according to the report.
Lawmakers responded critically, with the move being labelled ‘inane’ and ‘shortsighted.’ A top Democrat said the decision was meant to ‘flatter’ North Korea’s leader, the Guardian reported.
Beyond the immediate implications for the Korean peninsula, lawmakers warned that the decision risked strengthening Russia’s hand in Ukraine, according to the Guardian, linking the shift in US posture to broader geopolitical consequences.
Why it matters
The US-South Korea alliance is a cornerstone of security in East Asia, and scaling back joint exercises could affect the region's balance of power. Lawmakers warn the decision may embolden adversaries not only in Asia but also in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump order regarding South Korea?
According to the Guardian, Trump abruptly ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea.
Why did Trump make this decision?
Trump justified the decision by citing his 'very good relationship' with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, according to the Guardian.
How did lawmakers react?
Lawmakers called the move 'inane' and 'shortsighted,' with a top Democrat saying it was meant to 'flatter' North Korea's leader and warning it could strengthen Russia's hand in Ukraine.