Trump cuts US-South Korea drills, rattling allies in Seoul and Tokyo
Why it matters: The move raised fresh doubts about US security guarantees and intensified pressure on Japan to consider a defense backup plan.
President Donald Trump called for a reduction in joint US military exercises with South Korea, a move that jolted allies already facing higher regional tensions. The cut, described in a social media post as tied to Trump’s “very good relationship with Kim Jong Un,” landed hardest in Seoul but also stirred deep concern in Tokyo about the reliability of the US alliance system. The commentary argues South Korea may need to recalibrate if US backing weakens, while Japan, constrained by its pacifist constitution and long dependence on US protection, could face pressure to rethink the foundations of its postwar security posture.