Mattis Fails to Ease Asia's Concerns About Trump
- President’s disinterest in alliances looms over security event
- North Korea, collisions at sea and rise of China at issue
North Korea Isn't Backing Down
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The first question asked of U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis at a Singapore security conference this weekend began just by thanking him for taking the job. It was a compliment meant for Mattis, but not his boss.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy, perceived disinterest in alliances and above all unpredictability were overwhelming topics of concern at the annual Shangri-La meeting of defense ministers and other security officials and analysts from a total of 48 countries, which ended on Sunday.