"Some of our allies have been undermining us, I won't name them, I won't say Japan, nor will I name South Korea." - On December 2 local time, U.S. President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Japan and South Korea, his allies, during the day's cabinet meeting.
It's unbearable, let it out!
This is a signal of Trump's new round of pressure:
Amid low domestic approval ratings and challenges within the party, Trump needs to fulfill his campaign promise of "America First" and respond to voters' demands for "correcting trade imbalances."
He is accustomed to directly linking security commitments with economic interests, meaning that the United States provides security guarantees, and allies must make concessions in areas such as trade and defense spending. This statement aims to set the tone for the upcoming negotiations.
In summary, Trump's remarks are a direct embodiment of the "America First" principle, revealing the reality that interest exchange takes precedence over traditional camaraderie within the U.S. alliance system. This may prompt Japan and South Korea to re-evaluate their security and economic strategies.
There is a cost to having the U.S. provide security guarantees; protection fees are necessary, and Trump will not let Japan and South Korea take advantage.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850451661441036/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.