Trump’s move to gut South Korea alliance is ‘inane, haphazard decision’, lawmakers say

<p>US president’s abrupt order to scale back joint exercises with Seoul is meant to ‘flatter’ North Korea’s dictator, top Democrat says</p><p>Donald Trump’s move to gut Washington’s 73-year-old military alliance with Seoul has been called “inane” and “shortsighted” as lawmakers warned it risked strengthening Russia’s hand in Ukraine.</p><p>The US president abruptly ordered the Pentagon to scale back joint exercises with South Korea just days after North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles, justifying the decision by citing his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong-un, the nuclear-armed dictator such exercises exist to deter.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/17/trump-south-korea-alliance">Continue reading...</a>