The US's actions under Trump are causing concern among its treaty allies in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, as well as strategic partner Taiwan, who fear that his policies could undermine their security. The US's efforts to reshape the global trading system have disrupted world markets and created policy uncertainty, particularly for countries with large trade surpluses with the US, such as China, India, and Japan. If the Trump administration weakens the US dollar, these countries will lose any partial respite from tariffs, leading to deteriorating trade balances. Asian countries are limited in their ability to retaliate against the US through tariffs, but strengthening strategic cooperation and deepening trade integration can help build a buffer against US policy uncertainty and improve their economies' resilience.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/30/opinion/columns/asia-must-unite-to-survive-trump-20/2082647Donald Trump's criticism of NATO and his warm words to North Korea have eroded confidence among allies under the US security umbrella, according to experts. Byong-Chul Lee from Kyungnam University in Seoul warns that Trump's "provocative and inconsistent rhetoric" has shaken trust in US deterrence.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/03/29/world/politics/trump-us-allies-nukes-debate/US President Donald Trump criticized Germany for not spending enough on defense, citing the US contribution to protecting the country. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed frustration with European allies, including Germany, over their reluctance to aid in stopping Iran-backed Houthi aggression. German Chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz vowed to rebuild the military and invest hundreds of billions of euros in defense and infrastructure. The current state of Germany's armed forces is described as disarray, with only 181,174 soldiers, and a goal to expand to 203,000 by 2031.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-effect-forces-germany-reprioritize-defense-nation-plays-catch-up-military-spendingJamil Maqsood, President of the UKPNP's Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the United Nations Human Rights Council to investigate human rights abuses in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. During a session at the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, Maqsood highlighted the repression of peaceful protests demanding self-rule and resource sovereignty in these regions.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/ukpnp-leader-jamil-maqsood-urges-unhrc-to-probe-human-rights-violations-in-pojk-pogb/The UN rights chief, Volker Turk, is calling for an end to the suffering of civilians in Ukraine due to attacks by Russia, which has been ongoing for over three years. The US is attempting to broker a ceasefire, with recent weeks seeing increased efforts towards this goal.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/29/world/americas-emea/un-rights-chief-demands-end-to-horrific-suffering-in-ukraine/2082596The US and India have made progress in their trade negotiations, with a team of US officials led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch meeting with Indian officials to discuss increasing market access, reducing tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and deepening supply chain integration. The talks follow a visit by Indian Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal to the US and subsequent video conferences between the two sides. US President Donald Trump expressed satisfaction with the discussions, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "very smart man" and a "great friend of mine", while emphasizing that tariff talks would work out well between the two countries.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/india-us-to-begin-sectoral-talks-soon-under-proposed-trade-deal-13875656.htmlThe US, Japan, and Philippines have staged naval drills in the disputed South China Sea, with the Philippine Navy ship Jose Rizal participating alongside a US Navy destroyer and a Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force frigate. The joint exercises took place on Friday as part of efforts to strengthen regional security and counter Chinese claims in the area.
https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-navy/2025/03/28/us-japan-philippines-stage-naval-drills-in-disputed-south-china-sea/Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun has urged the US to abandon its Cold War mentality and refrain from sowing tension in the region, warning that any cooperation between the two countries should not target or harm third parties. This comes after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's comments during his Indo-Pacific tour, where he emphasized the need for the US and Philippines to stand together against China's perceived threat. Guo Jiakun disputed the US claims of a problem with freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, pointing out that it has always been the US that supported its allies' provocations and falsely labeled China as a threat.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/29/news/us-responsible-for-escalating-tension-in-scs-counters-chinese-official/2082553India and the US discussed trade, defence, and security cooperation in a phone call between US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The US is concerned about its $45.7 billion trade deficit with India, which increased by 5.4% in 2024. President Donald Trump has urged India to buy more American goods and reduce tariffs on US products.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/business/india-us-discuss-trade-defence/