SOUTH KOREA PERSPECTIVE

The Korea Times covers Trump's announcement to go 'a lot further' than 5,000 soldiers in Germany, and the bipartisan resistance from influential Republicans. For Seoul, the stakes are not purely academic: South Korea depends on approximately 28,500 US soldiers on its territory to guarantee its security against North Korea.

If Trump sanctions Germany — one of the most loyal allies, contributing above the NATO target since 2024 — for formulating criticisms of Iran strategy, what message does that send to other Asian allies who might one day express disagreements? The question preoccupies strategists in Seoul.

The resistance from Wicker and Rogers — two influential Republicans — shows there are internal limits to Trump's decisions. But their ability to restrain the president on military matters remains uncertain. Seoul maintains a cautious diplomatic posture, avoiding any public comments that could irritate Washington at this moment of heightened tensions.