Trump ignoring allies

This refers to an article “Vast Asia - US,” by Arthur I Cyr, published in The Korea Times on Aug. 23.

Arthur Cyr writes: “The importance of Asia also continues to grow. Since 1985, total U.S. exports to Asia have been greater than to Europe. That differential is steadily increasing. In military terms, Japan and South Korea are vital U.S. allies. The nuclear threat from North Korea only reinforces those ties. However, political rhetoric can overshadow vital ties.”

But he seems to have overlooked that President Donald Trump, in his idiosyncratic ways, is ignoring his traditional allies and courting America’s former enemies on a personal basis, undermining the strategic relations with its allies.

His fondness for Russian Vladimir Putin is well documented.

He calls Putin a “strong leader” and refuses to criticize him for interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Putin has reciprocated by saying Trump is a better choice than Hillary Clinton.

In fact, all evidence shows that Putin wanted to get Trump elected. Now Trump wants to bring Putin into the G7 from which he was expelled for annexing Crimea. It seems Trump wants to reciprocate the favor.

The same is happening in Trump’s dealings with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un whom Trump describes as a “strong leader” with the welfare of his people in mind.

He completely ignores the brutal nature of the regime. Even after his failed summit in Hanoi, Trump seems to be what he calls “in love with Kim,” who writes “beautiful letters” to him.

Now Kim is testing shortrange missiles, threatening South Korea and Trump continues to praise him, saying that short-range missiles don’t pose any threat to America.

He fails to realize that such short-range missiles pose a serious threat to South Korea and thousands of American troops stationed there.

Trump, Kim and Putin are becoming buddies ignoring America’s traditional allies.

In such a surreal environment, it is not clear who are America’s friends and who are its enemies.

Trump’s America seems to live in a world of illusion where Trump’s flight from reality is the guiding factor.

Cyr has done a disservice by trying to link Trump with other great presidents.

Trump is not only delusional, he is also a megalomaniac. Recently, he called himself as being divinely guided in international affairs.

With such a maniac ruling America, there is little hope that America will be able to persuade Kim to give up his nuclear arsenal, as promised.