Donald Trump has once again discovered his favorite form of foreign policy: be suspicious of your allies and adoring about dictators.
This week Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce U.S. participation in joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the drills were too expensive and sent an unnecessarily “hostile” message to North Korea. He specifically cited his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un. South Korea, according to AP reporting, was not consulted before Trump announced the change. (AP News)
How touching.
South Korea has been an American treaty ally since 1953. More than 36,000 Americans died during the Korean War helping prevent the South from being swallowed by Kim Jong Un’s grandfather. Today roughly 28,500 American troops remain stationed there under an alliance that has helped preserve peace on the peninsula for more than seven decades. (Every CRS Report)
Kim Jong Un, meanwhile, runs a nuclear-armed hereditary dictatorship that continues developing missiles and weapons.
Naturally, Trump seems worried about hurting Kim’s feelings.
Perhaps we need a new State Department doctrine:
Friends must pay more. We must never hurt the feelings of our enemies.
Trump has called North Korea “unthreatening and respectful” during his presidency. North Korea responded to his latest diplomatic overture in the traditional respectful manner: by firing about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea. (AP News)
Nothing says “very good relationship” quite like firing missiles.
Trump’s fascination with Kim has always been peculiar. He once spoke of the two leaders “falling in love” through letters. Now, years after their summits failed to produce North Korean denuclearization, Trump appears eager to rekindle the romance—even as Pyongyang has expanded its nuclear capabilities and strengthened its relationships with Russia and China. (The Wall Street Journal)
Meanwhile South Korea gets treated like the dependable spouse who discovers her husband has canceled their anniversary dinner because his exciting old girlfriend might call.
This is what makes the episode more than merely ridiculous.
Alliances depend upon trust. South Korea has organized its national defense around the expectation that the United States means what it says. Joint exercises are not elaborate military dance recitals designed to annoy Kim Jong Un. They allow American and South Korean forces to practice fighting together if deterrence fails.
Weakening those exercises to not hurt the feeling of Kim sends an extraordinary message:
America’s longtime allies must continually prove their value. America’s adversaries need only flatter Donald Trump.
South Korea stood with America for generations.
Kim Jong Un wrote Trump some beautiful letters.
Guess who gets the flowers?
Which country has been run better and has been the better ally over the last 70+ years?
Plus, one is a democracy and the other is a nepotistic dictatorship.
Make it make sense!?
