HIGH on the flight deck of a warship docked in Tokyo Bay, America’s outgoing defence secretary, Ashton Carter, offered a tribute to Asian allies on December 6th that was at once heartfelt and possibly redundant after Donald Trump takes office next month. For eight years an “Asia rebalance” has seen generals, diplomats and trade envoys commanded by Barack Obama, devote more energy and time to the Asia-Pacific. Bluntly, this pivot was intended to shift American attention away from thankless wars in the Middle East and from a moribund Europe, towards a region deemed likely to dominate the 21st century.
With the great grey bulk of the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft-carrier, looming behind him, Mr Carter hailed the Asia rebalance as vital to both regional security and America’s national interests. Our military alliance with Japan is not only stronger than ever, he declared, but offers “equal benefits for both countries.”
That is not likely to convince Mr Trump, who won office declaring that America is being robbed, cheated and taken for granted by foreigners. He grumbles that feckless allies should cover more of...Continue reading
Source: United States http://ift.tt/2gfXczO
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