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President Trump's National Defense Strategy Shifts US Nuclear Stance, Prompting Global Proliferation Concerns

President Trump's National Defense Strategy Shifts US Nuclear Stance, Prompting Global Proliferation Concerns

President Trump's latest National Defense Strategy for 2026 has removed explicit mentions of extended deterrence, leading to a significant shift in US nuclear policy. This change encourages allies to increase their own defense spending rather than relying on the US nuclear umbrella. According to Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, allies now widely perceive Washington as disengaged and unreliable. This perception is fostering a sense of strategic autonomy among nations, prompting many to reconsider acquiring their own nuclear weapons. The US has also initiated discussions on peaceful energy enrichment with South Korea and signed a civilian nuclear pact with Saudi Arabia, potentially paving the way for domestic enrichment in the kingdom. These developments coincide with increased nuclear ambitions globally, including France's announcement of its first nuclear warhead increase since 1992 and Japan's reevaluation of its non-nuclear principles. The UN Secretary-Gener...

International Affairs Forum Analyzes 'Great-Power Utility Trap' and Limits of Security Assurances for Smaller States

International Affairs Forum Analyzes 'Great-Power Utility Trap' and Limits of Security Assurances for Smaller States

The International Affairs Forum has published an analysis titled 'The Great-Power Utility Trap,' which examines the distinction between a smaller state's strategic value to a great power and an unlimited security guarantee. The article, authored by Osama S. Qatrani, argues that treaties are tested under extreme pressure and that commitments are interpreted through the lens of interests, capabilities, escalation risks, and survival calculations of the enforcing states. It uses Ukraine's experience with the 1994 Budapest Memorandum as a key example, noting that while the memorandum reaffirmed respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, it was not a NATO-style mutual-defense treaty. The analysis also draws lessons from Georgia, Armenia, and the Gulf states, illustrating how states can become strategically exposed when their alignment is strong enough to provoke an adversary but insufficient to provide full protection. The article emphasizes that supporting a state in war is not the same as entering the war on its beha...

Atlantic Council Experts Criticize President Trump's Decision to Scale Back US-South Korea Military Exercises

Atlantic Council Experts Criticize President Trump's Decision to Scale Back US-South Korea Military Exercises

President Trump announced his decision to scale back the annual US-South Korea military exercises, specifically the Ulchi Freedom Shield, which was scheduled to run through August 27. This decision was made public on Sunday night, with President Trump stating he was 'not happy' with the exercises and had instructed the Pentagon to shorten them. He cited his 'very good relationship' with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as a factor. The Atlantic Council experts have expressed varied views on this development. Bee Yun Jo, a nonresident senior fellow, emphasized that while diplomacy is valuable, military readiness should not be used as a bargaining chip. Dokyoung Koo argued that reducing combined training negatively impacts both the United States and South Korea. Sungmin Cho, another nonresident senior fellow, expressed surprise at the linkage of these exercises to the Iran war. The scaling back reportedly involves ending the drill after its defensive phase on August 21, canceling the counteroffensive phase ...

President Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Drones, Excludes Ukraine from Allied Exemptions

President Trump Imposes 100% Tariff on Drones, Excludes Ukraine from Allied Exemptions

President Trump signed an executive order on August 13, implementing a 100% ad valorem duty rate on imported drones weighing over 25 kg, drones with integrated thermal imagers, docking stations, and specific critical components. Smaller drones and other components will face a 25% tariff. These rates are set to take effect from September 3, with an additional band of components following on February 9, 2027. While close U.S. allies such as the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein received a capped tariff of 15% (and British-made products at 10%), Ukraine was not included in this list. This means Ukrainian drones and components will be subject to the full 100% and 25% tariff bands. The proclamation does not provide a mechanism for adding countries to the reduced-rate list or an exemption for government procurement, including for the Department of War. The only relief offered is a 180-day delay for firms already on the Pentagon's Blue UAS cleared list or the Federal Commu...

Asian shares advance despite Wall Street losses as US Treasury's moves fail to calm markets

Asian shares advance despite Wall Street losses as US Treasury's moves fail to calm markets

Asian shares are mostly higher following a retreat on Wall Street, as the U.S. Treasury Department's plan to expand government debt buybacks appeared to have only limited capacity to calm markets

Global stocks set for biggest weekly fall since mid-July, dollar on the defensive

Global stocks set for biggest weekly fall since mid-July, dollar on the defensive

By Dhara Ranasinghe and Wayne Cole LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Global stocks were set for their biggest weekly fall on Friday since mid-July amid continued strains in global bond markets and a diplomatic deadlock in the Gulf that has lifted oil prices to one-month highs and kept inflation risks in

Global stocks set for biggest weekly fall since mid-July as bond yields, oil stay high

Global stocks set for biggest weekly fall since mid-July as bond yields, oil stay high

By Wayne Cole and Dhara Ranasinghe LONDON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Global stocks were set for their biggest weekly fall since mid-July on Friday, as strain in global bond markets showed little sign of abating, while diplomatic deadlock in the Gulf lifted oil prices to one-month highs and kept inflation

President Trump Orders Reduction of Joint Military Exercises with South Korea Amidst Criticism and Outreach to North Korea

President Trump Orders Reduction of Joint Military Exercises with South Korea Amidst Criticism and Outreach to North Korea

President Trump has directed the Pentagon to scale back joint military exercises with South Korea. This decision comes as President Trump criticizes South Korea for what he perceives as insufficient support in the ongoing conflict with Iran and for not contributing enough financially to its own defense. He stated that the U.S. cannot protect countries that are not willing to help. This move follows similar allegations against other U.S. allies, including members of NATO, regarding their defense spending and support for U.S. military initiatives. Concurrently, President Trump has made public overtures to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, posting a photo of them together in the Demilitarized Zone and expressing a desire to re-engage in denuclearization talks. The South Korean Embassy in Washington has stated it is coordinating closely with the U.S. on the exercises, while Foreign Minister Cho Hyun indicated that Seoul was not notified in advance of President Trump's order to reduce the drills.

North Korea fires barrage of missiles toward the sea after dismissing overture from Trump

North Korea fires barrage of missiles toward the sea after dismissing overture from Trump

South Korea’s military says North Korea has launched about 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea

Asian shares gain, with South Korea's Kospi up 6%, after the US Treasury expands its debt buybacks

Asian shares gain, with South Korea's Kospi up 6%, after the US Treasury expands its debt buybacks

Shares are mostly higher in Asia, with South Korea’s benchmark Kospi rebounding more than 6%

AKMU's Lee Su-hyun Releases Korean Remake of Seiko Matsuda's 'Aoi Sangoshou'

AKMU's Lee Su-hyun Releases Korean Remake of Seiko Matsuda's 'Aoi Sangoshou'

AKMU's Lee Su-hyun Releases Korean Remake of Seiko Matsuda's 'Aoi Sangoshou'

Asian shares advance, led by a nearly 6% gain for South Korea's Kospi

Asian shares advance, led by a nearly 6% gain for South Korea's Kospi

Shares are higher in Asia and South Korea’s benchmark Kospi has gained nearly 6%