Finian Cunningham
Korean defiance is a rallying call for global repudiation of American imperialism.
This is a pivotal moment in history as South Korea tells Trump it is done with being a vassal for American imperialist wars.
KJ Noh notes in this interview for Strategic Culture Foundation that South Korea's defiance of U.S. power is resonating with growing resistance among other nations towards Washington's bullying and warmongering.
President Lee Jae-myung of South Korea gave a televised nationwide address last week declaring that his country would not be deploying military forces to the Strait of Hormuz.
That announcement followed weeks of speculation that South Korea would cave to pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been arm-twisting Seoul and other allies to send military support for his seven-month war on Iran. A war that is plunging the global and American economy into turmoil and could derail his presidency in the U.S. mid-term elections.
Geopolitical commentator KJ Noh says the public rejection of Trump's appeal by South Korea is a major blow to Washington's international image.
He notes that the Republic of Korea has been a loyal vassal of the United States, always sending its troops to fight American wars. South Korean soldiers have deployed in every U.S. overseas war from Vietnam to Iraq.
"The Korean people are saying they do not want to be cannon fodder for any more U.S. wars," comments KJ Noh.
He adds that this defiance will inspire other nations to reject American hegemony.
However, KJ Noh warns that Washington is exerting severe pressure on South Korea to bend the knee. "South Korea is a living example of the maxim that to be an enemy of America is dangerous, but to be an ally is fatal."
Trump is in a deep mess of his own making as a result of his criminal war against Iran, which he is losing. He needs "allies" to bail him out by supplying weapons and military personnel to act as cannon fodder.
Over the past eight decades, South Korea would have bent over and loyally obliged. But not anymore, it seems. The Korean people have had enough of being Uncle Sam's vassal.
Korean defiance is a rallying call for global repudiation of American imperialism.