Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 2, 2019

The U.S. pays billions to maintain military bases in Japan and South Korea. BOATFOTO/Shutterstock.com

The Conversation: Why does the US pay so much for the defense of its allies? 5 questions answered

Since the start of Donald Trump’s run for the U.S. presidency in 2015, he has been critical of the amount of money U.S. allies contribute to their own defense.

Now, the Trump administration is demanding that Japan and South Korea pay more for hosting U.S. troops stationed in those countries.

The media also reported that U.S. military leadership in South Korea discussed the possibility of withdrawing up to 4,000 troops from South Korea if it does not increase its contributions. The Pentagon has since denied having such plans.

We have each studied overseas deployments of U.S. military personnel for nearly a decade and have recently come together to research the costs and benefits of such deployments.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- December 2, 2019

NATO under friendly fire as leaders ready for London summit -- Lorne Cook, AP

Impeachment shadows Trump on trip to NATO leaders meeting -- Aamer Madhani, AP

Hong Kong: A different kind of

Cold War -- David P. Goldman, Asia Times

China Redraws the Geography of Global Diplomacy -- Bonnie Bley, Foreign Affairs

Iran May Be Locked Into a Future of More Protests -- Vahid Yücesoy, World Poliics Review

Iranian protests were not about the price of gas -- A.J. Caschetta, The Hill

Will Saudi Arabia reduce its oil output? -- Al Jazeera

Turkish-Saudi animosity spills over into cultural sphere -- Semih Idiz, Al-Monitor

Somaliland is on a rocky political path -- Maria Gerth-Niculescu, DW

Somalia: What does the future hold for my country? -- BBC

Rural Unrest Spreads in Europe -- Arthur Neslen & Eddy Wax, Politico EU

New SPD leadership could bring Germany closer to new election -- Emily Gordine and Jennifer Pahlke, DW

What's next for Chancellor Merkel's government? -- Austin Davis, DW

Does France Really Need an Aircraft Carrier? -- Robert Farley, National Interest

Thinking in Space: The Role of Geography in National Security Decision-Making -- Andrew Rhodes, TNSR