Connect with us

Latest News

At a crucial juncture for Asia, Trump’s Kim gamble raises questions about US dependability.

Published

on

As allies from Japan to India reevaluate how much they can rely on Washington, Donald Trump’s olive branch to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un at the expense of a longstanding ally comes at a critical juncture for U.S. security ties in Asia.

According to government officials and security experts, the U.S. president’s sudden decision last week to reduce military drills with South Korea, which he characterised as hostile to Pyongyang, has heightened concerns that Trump’s unpredictability could strain alliances that have long preserved peace in the region.

India is becoming less assured of its position in Washington’s strategic calculations, Taiwan is cautiously observing an impending summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Japan is concerned that it too may find itself in Trump’s cross-hairs as it begins difficult security negotiations.According to Jeremy Chan, a senior analyst with political risk consultancy Eurasia Group and a former U.S. diplomat in China and Japan, the move will undoubtedly fuel rising scepticism in the area regarding U.S. security pledges.

When questioned about such worries, a White House official stated that Trump has been irritated by the inability of U.S. allies to back his fight with Iran and made it clear that many of them must pay more on their own defence. The person also stated that Washington is still dedicated to cooperating with Seoul.

According to a person briefed on negotiations between U.S. and South Korean officials, Trump is keen to resume talks with North Korea and gain a victory on the international scene while being embroiled in an unpopular battle with Iran.VERY DIFFICULT FOR TOKYO

However, senior Japanese politician and former defence minister Itsunori Onodera warned that Trump’s push to see Kim, which has so far elicited a chilly response from Pyongyang, might backfire and give nuclear-armed North Korea more confidence.

He stated last Thursday on a Fuji TV news program that such a possibility is “extremely troubling” for Tokyo. Earlier that day, Pyongyang launched a barrage of ballistic missiles off its east coast in defiance of Trump’s advances, setting off alarms in neighbouring South Korea and Japan.

As Tokyo begins negotiations with Washington over how much it should contribute to the expense of hosting U.S. forces—America’s largest overseas deployment—Japanese officials are more concerned about Trump’s strategy.

According to a senior Japanese government official who asked to remain anonymous because to the delicate nature of the situation, Japan is preparing for the possibility that Trump could suddenly demand a large raise that would be politically tough to accept.

According to commentators, Trump may potentially use the planned military drills between the United States and Japan in October as leverage. Washington and Tokyo officials warned that although they did not anticipate a reduction in the exercises, Trump might alter his mind at any time.

Due to the diversion of American resources and manpower to the war with Iran, the Keen Sword exercises may already be smaller than their 2024 edition.

Concerns about the erosion of U.S. deterrence against China have been raised by this change, which recently saw the USS George Washington, America’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Asia, head for the Middle East to relieve the troubled USS Abraham Lincoln.

Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby stated that Washington prioritises collaborating with partners to guarantee combat readiness along the so-called first island chain, which stretches from Japan through the Philippines, during a visit to Asia this month.

XI, TAIWAN, AND TRUMP

Taiwan, the democratically run island that Beijing claims, is the place where worries about China’s increasing military coercion are most acute.

In an effort to preserve cordial ties and a precarious trade agreement with China’s Xi, Trump has delayed approving a $14 billion package of arms sales to Taipei.

Taipei insiders said they anticipate that Washington will at the very least divide the military sales into smaller halves in order to try and avoid upsetting Beijing too much as Trump gets ready for his most recent round of summitry with Xi in Washington next month.

There is a difference between Trump’s rhetoric and real U.S. action, according to Domingo Yang of Taiwan’s defence ministry’s think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research. Yang notes that U.S. information cooperation, training, and patrols with Taiwan continue to be significant.

The United States said that its “commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific” was demonstrated on Friday when a U.S. Navy aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait.

According to security specialists, Trump’s recent actions have also undermined confidence in India, where the United States runs the risk of wasting years of work to bring New Delhi closer as a counterweight to China and Russia.

It also follows the Pentagon’s June decision to change the name of its military headquarters in Asia from Indo-Pacific Command to Pacific Command, which some analysts interpret as a message that Washington no longer views India as strategically significant.

Any such change was rejected by the Pentagon. However, New Delhi was already irritated by Trump’s high tariffs on Indian exports and his frequent assertions that he had mediated a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. According to two Indian individuals with knowledge of the situation, officials are now “very, very cautious” about agreeing to long-term military arrangements with Washington.According to Pearl Pandya, senior analyst at Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, a conflict monitoring organization, “the most recent decision only serves to reinforce President Trump’s transactional view of foreign affairs and serves as a reminder that disagreements over specific policies, even among allies, can carry costs for the broader bilateral relationship.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Pakistan test-fires upgraded Fatah-4 with enhanced precision and survivability

Published

on

By

Pakistan has successfully conducted a test launch of the extended version of its indigenously developed Fatah-4 Ground-Launched Cruise Missile, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The latest test focused on an extended-range variant of the weapon system and was aimed at validating additional technical parameters incorporated into its various sub-systems. The missile is equipped with advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational aids, enabling it to engage targets at extended ranges with high precision and lethality.

The development marks another test of Pakistan’s domestically developed Fatah-4 system, which was previously reported with a range of 750 kilometres.

According to the military’s statement, the extended version successfully demonstrated the performance of its upgraded systems during the launch.

https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2107485578157523201&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fdunyanews.tv%2Fen%2FPakistan%2F976473-pakistan-testfires-upgraded-fatah4-with-enhanced-precision-and-survi&sessionId=1d3dc2fa38533299482c473e201a74ed514a4df4&siteScreenName=DunyaNews&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px

The test validated additional technical parameters of various sub-systems designed to improve accuracy and enhance the weapon system’s survivability. The latest configuration is also intended to provide the capability to engage targets at greater distances while maintaining precision.

The Fatah-4 is a Ground-Launched Cruise Missile equipped with advanced avionics and modern navigation technology. Pakistan previously conducted a successful training fire of the system in May 2026, with ISPR saying the exercise was intended to enhance operational efficiency and validate technical parameters linked to accuracy and survivability.

The missile had earlier been publicly reported with a range of 750 kilometres. The extended version tested on Tuesday has been described by ISPR as capable of engaging targets at extended ranges, although the military statement did not specify a new maximum range.

The launch was witnessed by senior officers from the Pakistan Army, alongside scientists and engineers from the developing agency.

The Fatah-4 was first publicly confirmed by Pakistan in 2025, when the Army conducted a successful training launch of the newly inducted Ground-Launched Cruise Missile. At that time, ISPR said the system featured advanced avionics and state-of-the-art navigational aids and was capable of engaging targets with high precision.

A further training fire was conducted in May 2026 by the Army Rocket Force Command. ISPR said the exercise validated technical parameters of various sub-systems while focusing on improved accuracy and enhanced survivability.

The President and Prime Minister of Pakistan, along with the Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces and the Services Chiefs, commended the successful test launch of the Fatah-4 extended version.

They also appreciated the technical expertise, dedication and commitment of the scientists, engineers and other personnel involved in achieving the latest milestone.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Syria, Saudi Arabia discuss reconstruction, investment

Published

on

By

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday.They talked about Syria’s rebuilding efforts and ways to bring in Saudi investments.

Al-Sharaa officially invited the crown prince to visit Syria.
The Saudi official news agency, SPA, posted pictures of the meeting on X, but didn’t give more details.

The Syrian presidency said that Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani was also at the meeting.
They discussed the relationship between Syria and Saudi Arabia and how to improve it to benefit both countries.

The Syrian presidency’s media office later said the talks were about improving relations in many areas and boosting political, diplomatic, and economic cooperation in a way that works for both nations.

They also reviewed plans for Syria’s reconstruction, including repairing damaged infrastructure and important facilities from the war, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency, SANA.

The discussions also covered bringing in high-quality investments to Syria and increasing the role of Syrian and Saudi businesses in energy, construction, industry, agriculture, and trade.

Al-Sharaa invited Mohammed bin Salman to visit Syria, with the presidency saying the visit would help build closer ties and start a new stage of Arab cooperation on regional and international matters.

They also talked about recent events in the region and shared views on issues that affect both countries, aiming to support security and stability in the area.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Vance says Iran must cut enrichment to end war

Published

on

By

US Vice President JD Vance told Reuters in an exclusive interview that Iran must make a “meaningful” cut in its nuclear enrichment programs to meet US demands and stop the seven-month war between the two countries.At the same time, Washington is unsure how Tehran makes decisions during negotiations.

Vance, who has long doubted US involvement in foreign conflicts, is leading efforts to reach a peace deal.
In June, he helped broker a temporary agreement, but it collapsed quickly.The war has affected global energy prices and has made President Donald Trump and other Republicans look weak ahead of the November midterm elections.

After a campaign trip in Alaska, Vance said any deal would require Iran to reduce its nuclear enrichment, not just promise to do so later.

“If you don’t want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60% enriched fuel?
And if you want to show you’re not going to build a nuclear weapon, don’t build highly enriched fuel.That’s a basic issue,” Vance said.

He added, “If they want to show they’re not going to build a nuclear weapon, they should take meaningful steps on their enrichment programs.”

In recent weeks, Iran and the US have been discussing ways to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for global energy shipping.
Trump rejected Tehran’s latest offer and warned that military action could get worse after the midterms.

Vance said the US is still open to a deal but wants real nuclear concessions from Iran.
“We won’t trade words for actions,” he said.

UNCERTAIN ABOUT IRAN’S DECISION-MAKING: VANCE

Vance also said Washington isn’t sure who makes decisions in Iran.
He has talked with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, but it’s unclear how much power they have in Iran’s leadership structure.This became even more complicated after joint US-Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the start of the war.

“One of the things we noticed is it’s not totally clear how decisions are made in Iran,” Vance said.
Trump also said on Tuesday that his biggest problem is not knowing who is in charge of Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that US officials know who the Iranian representatives are and how the decision-making process works.
“The real problem is the contradictory statements and mixed messages from US officials,” Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference.

Vance told Reuters he has spoken with field commanders to understand the battlefield.
He said there are no serious shortages of weapons and that while Iranian forces can hit commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, they can’t stop energy shipments through the waterway.

Vance did not say whether he is leading peace talks, even though he is often seen as the White House’s main negotiator.
“We are certainly involved,” he said.”Ultimately, the president of the United States is driving things.”

The war — costing about $3 billion a month — has become a big issue in the campaign.
Rising energy prices have hurt Trump and Republicans in key states that could influence the outcome of Congress.

Vance has tried to downplay criticism of Trump’s handling of the conflict, telling voters not to let this issue stop them from supporting Republicans in the coming election.

In Alaska, Vance supported Senator Dan Sullivan, who is in a close race against Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.
Trump won Alaska by 13 points in 2024, but higher living costs have put the state in question.

Before talking to Reuters, Vance focused much of his speech on affordability, especially energy prices.
In Alaska, remote location makes everyday items more expensive, and energy production is a big part of the economy.

Rallygoers cheered when Sullivan almost introduced Vance as the US president instead of the vice president.
Vance is seen as a top Republican candidate for the presidency in 2028.

Vance told Reuters he hasn’t decided yet whether he will run for president in 2028.

“He said, ‘I’m naturally someone who puts things off.
I haven’t really thought about it much.'”

Continue Reading

Trending