The Ally America Can’t Afford — And Can’t Afford to Lose
Trump cancelled the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises one day before they were set to begin. His justification was not strategy - it was cost, personal rapport with Kim Jong Un, and Seoul's refusal to join the Iran war. Meanwhile, North Korea tested missiles the week before. South Korea is being asked to pay more for a guarantee that is being reduced. The alliance built on American predictability has proven unable to absorb American unpredictability. And a quiet partnership with Turkey may prove more consequential than either capital admits. #SouthKorea #USAlliance #Trump #DefensePolicy #KoreanPeninsula #MilitaryExercises #Geopolitics #TurkeyPartnership