The United States' Asian allies are reluctant to support an American military operation against Iran because of eroded trust in Washington, according to an article published in The American Conservative magazine.
“Despite calls from Washington for more direct involvement – in escort missions, mine clearance or other naval support – Tokyo and Seoul are hesitant. Of course, there are many reasons for caution regarding Iran. But above all, it is not only the nature of the conflict that has changed. The level of trust in American leadership has changed“, the article notes.
The magazine recalls that twenty years ago, during the war in Iraq, Japan and South Korea faced a similar dilemma, but decided to support the United States despite significant domestic and legal restrictions. According to the author, the difference lies in the way Washington approached working with partners: the George W. Bush administration viewed the management of the alliance as part of the military effort, providing the allies with the necessary political cover.
Today, such a sense of shared purpose is absent, writes The American Conservative. US President Donald Trump “alternately calls on countries to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and boasts that the United States does not really need their help“. The publication notes that for allied governments, this raises a fundamental question of whether Washington is following a purposeful strategy or acting on the impulsive decisions of one person.
The lack of clear goals - intentions to weaken Iran's armed forces or achieve regime change - makes participation in the conflict "politically unjustifiable" for Tokyo and Seoul, who fear being drawn into a new Middle East war with no clear outcome. In addition, for most of Trump's presidency, Washington has treated even close partners as objects of economic pressure, which further undermines trust and makes it difficult for officials to ask their constituents to take risks, the magazine concludes.