Trump's dangerous course in Asia

In Asia, too, Trump remains a master at damaging old US alliances. When he was in Beijing recently, he expressed doubts about support for Taiwan. Now he is scaling back joint military exercises with South Korea, a country where American troops have been stationed for decades.

As always, his reasons are remarkable because they are completely unstrategic. In addition to costs, he cites a lack of support from the South Korean government in the Iran war, but above all a “completely inappropriate and hostile” signal that the maneuvers send to North Korea. The propaganda in Pyongyang couldn't put it better.

In reality, North Korea is not a “non-threatening and respectful” country, as Trump says. Leader Kim Jong-un continues to conduct missile tests, which are also aimed at US bases in South Korea. And he is supporting Russia militarily in Ukraine, helping to undermine Trump's peace efforts in that conflict. The fact that the president claims that he has a “very good relationship” with the North Korean dictator is either pretextual or illusory.

Trump's original approach that allies in Europe and Asia needed to contribute more to common defense was justified. But when he now seeks proximity to Putin, Xi and Kim, he increasingly questions the purpose of these alliances. South Korea is one of a growing number of countries in the expanded West that are having to consider whether America can still be relied upon. In East Asia too, this is not least a nuclear question.