Trump cuts military drills with South Korea citing ‘very good relationship’ with Kim Jong-un – US politics live

Senator Jack Reed has slammed “another inane, haphazard decision by President Trump and his chaotic administration” after Trump ordered the Pentagon to scale back “inappropriate and hostile” military drills with South Korea aimed at deterring North Korea .

The Democrat, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate armed forces committee, said in a statement that the president’s move amounted to punishing South Korea “for no reason beyond Trump’s ego”, would weaken confidence in US commitments to its allies – and handed a “propaganda victory” to Kim Jong-un .

“ When President Trump cuts military exercises to flatter a dictator or punishes South Korea for declining to join a war he started, all of our allies – and adversaries – think that America’s commitments are negotiable ,” Reed said. “ Kim Jong-un has won a propaganda victory and South Korea, one of our strongest allies, has been punished for no reason beyond Trump’s ego. ”

He added: “ China and Russia are watching how easily this president abandons America’s allies, and they will remember it the next time they test us .”