From NATO in the West to South Korea in the East: How is Trump straining ties with allies amid Iran war?
This move marks another point of tension with a European ally over the Middle East conflict.This comes after comments by US President Donald Trump earlier in the week, when he warned of pulling troops from NATO ally Germany after a disagreement with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz had remarked that Iran was “humiliating” Washington during negotiations.Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the withdrawal is expected to be completed within six to twelve months. He added that the decision comes after a detailed review of US military positioning in Europe, taking into account operational needs and current conditions on the ground, AFP reported.Is Trump punishing his allies?Trump now appears determined to punish allies who have failed to back the war or contribute to a peacekeeping force in the crucial Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Tehran's forces have effectively closed.On Thursday, Trump said he may pull US troops from Italy and Spain due to their opposition to the war, telling reporters in the Oval Office: “Italy has not been of any help to us and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible.”"Yeah, probably, I probably will. Why shouldn't I?" Trump said, as reported by AFP.Typically, about 80,000 to 100,000 US military personnel are stationed in Europe, depending on ongoing operations, exercises, and troop rotations. NATO allies have long anticipated that the forces deployed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 would be among the first to be withdrawn.Arnold, the expert at RUSI, said that Europe is more concerned about issues like a U.S. redeployment of Patriot missile systems and ammunition from Germany to the Middle East, and notifications to NATO countries such as Estonia and Belgium that orders for American weapons will be delayed as the U.S. government is prioritized, as reported by Associated Press.A senior Western official told The Associated Press that they weren't aware of any discussions between the U.S. and Germany or other allies regarding the possibility of troop reductions in Germany.The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to AP to discuss sensitive matters, said that Europe and Germany, which recently announced its new military strategy, are taking more responsibility for security on the continent.In October, the U.S. confirmed that it would reduce its troop presence on NATO’s borders with Ukraine. The move to cut 1,500-3,000 troops came on short notice and unsettled NATO ally Romania, where the military organisation runs an air base.Strained US-South Korea relationsThe Iran conflict is having wider geopolitical ripple effects that extend well beyond the Middle East, significantly affecting US–South Korea relations. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, South Korea depends on imports for nearly 98% of its fossil fuel consumption due to a lack of domestic energy resources.With no international oil or natural gas pipelines, the country relies entirely on tanker shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet its energy needs.View full ImageData source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics, and BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022.A major share of its crude oil imports, usually about 60–75% in recent years, comes from the Middle East, while it also depends on the region to a lesser extent for liquefied natural gas (LNG), Statista data noted.The effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical passage for about 70% of South Korea’s crude oil imports—has revealed serious weaknesses in the country’s energy security, petrochemical industry, semiconductor sector, and overall economy, according to a report by CSIS.Helium crisisThe blockade has highlighted weaknesses in South Korea’s semiconductor supply chain. The countr
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