The political scientist named the reasons for the reduction of military exercises between the United States and South Korea

Despite the reduction in the scale of joint military exercises, there is no major discord in relations between the United States and South Korea. This opinion was expressed by Kamran Hasanov, a senior lecturer at the RUDN University, Doctor of Political Science at the University of Salzburg, in a conversation with Izvestia.

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"[US President Donald] Trump, in his characteristic manner, conducts relations not on the basis of friendship, morality, values and ideas, but on the basis of benefits and interests. Seoul is no exception. The United States needs the support of its allies against Iran, and anyone who refuses this support falls out of favor," he explained.

According to the expert, demand from South Korea is quite high, since there are American bases in the country. But no higher than the Europeans, who are geographically closer and could help more in the Middle East.

The analyst identified several reasons for Trump's curtailment of exercises. The first is resentment and revenge, and the second is the desire to save financial and military resources to continue the campaign in Iran.

"The third is that North Korea is already a recognized nuclear power, so it is dangerous to further provoke relations with Pyongyang. The fourth is that after the last visit to China, unwritten agreements on non—interference by the United States in the affairs on the Korean Peninsula and Beijing in the situation in Iran could appear," the source said.

He also did not rule out that the American president may again try to become a "mediator between the Koreas" against the background of the upcoming elections due to failures in other areas.

Read more in the Izvestia article:

Enemy of the exercises: Trump ordered to reduce military maneuvers with Seoul