International | The Telegram How to survive abandonment by America Allies are planning for a lonelier, harsher world: a report from South Korea Share Illustration: Chloe Cushman Dec 16th 2025 | 5 min read S EEN FROM East Asia, America is a partner with a commitment problem, demanding ever more of Asian allies while promising ever less. That leaves governments in the region wondering how to hedge against their worst fear: Trumpian abandonment.

Alas, today’s America is both fickle and jealous.

The Telegram was recently in Seoul and heard about the one-sided demands being made by America of its decades-old ally, South Korea.

This article appeared in the International section of the print edition under the headline “Surviving abandonment” From the December 20th 2025 edition Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents ⇒ Explore the edition Share Reuse this content More from International The Telegram A stay-calm plan to save the world Alas, almost no foreign leader is as reasonable as Finland’s president, Alexander Stubb The War Room newsletter: What is Donald Trump’s aim for Iran? Shashank Joshi, our defence editor, analyses the president’s options The Telegram Donald Trump’s envoys failed to reassure Europe A gathering of world leaders in Munich shows how trust has collapsed The Robin Hood state is coming for the rich Tax systems are more progressive than you think Inside Jeffrey Epstein’s network What 1. 4m emails reveal about America’s most notorious sex offender The Telegram Are liberal values a luxury the West cannot afford? Yes, China has impressive high-speed trains. That is no reason for the West to adopt iron-fisted rule

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