US Allies Fear Instability, Not Their Own Arms Buys
Deutsche Welle reports that Seoul and Tokyo are watching 'US foreign policy twists with rising fear.' Apparently, they're worried about 'America First' isolationism threatening their security. But what exactly are they fearing for? South Korea signed a 10-year, $7.2 billion arms deal with the US in 2020, becoming a top importer of US weaponry. Japan’s defense budget hit a record $56.5 billion for
2024, largely fueled by purchasing US-made F-35s and long-range missiles. (Source: SIPRI, Japan Ministry of Defense). Their 'fear' seems less about genuine insecurity and more about potential disruptions to a highly profitable, US-led defense framework. One might wonder if their anxiety is truly about regional stability or the profit margins of their defense industries. The narrative carefully
sidesteps that both nations are deeply entwined with and highly benefit from the very 'US foreign policy' they ostensibly fear losing control of. It’s almost as if they're not afraid of 'America First,' but rather of Uncle Sam deciding to cut off the arms pipeline to focus on domestic endeavors (a short-lived fantasy, no doubt).