North Korea claims U.S. troops in South Korea represent U.S. hostility toward Pyongyang, and frequently calls for their withdrawal. "The hardware piece is having American troops on the territory of the ally because it exposes the United States to the threat," he said.(Photo from twinglobal) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] WASHINGTON: A former U.S. ambassador to NATO stated on Thursday that the United States must reassure its allies of American commitment to help defend them against possible North Korean attacks to prevent key strategic alliances from falling apart.
Currently serving as president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Ivo Daalder, an independent global affairs think tank, also argued U.S. failure to do so may encourage its allies to consider having nuclear capabilities themselves. "So one of the things that's really important is that folks in Washington need to understand that this situation requires alliance management, at least as much as focusing on deterrence," he said in a webinar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank based in Washington. Daalder said such behavior may include getting rid of American military presence in allied countries, resulting in the decoupling of U.S alliances that many experts believe is one of key strategic objectives of North Korea.
Daalder also noted U.S. failure to reassure its allies may lead to an arms race.
His remarks come amid a growing call in Seoul for the U.S. to consider redeploying its tactical nuclear weapons to South Korea. Some South Koreans, including leading politicians, are also voicing a need to nuclearize their country itself.