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Before Moscow’s unprovoked war, European nations were split over issues ranging from Russian energy pipelines to Brexit and — with lingering resentments dating back to Trump-era trade disputes and the Iraq war — some even appeared to be rethinking their relationship with Washington.
The stakes could hardly be any higher. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken recently referred to China’s rise as “the biggest geopolitical test of the 21st century” — and that was after the Russian invasion.
Meanwhile, North Korea has carried out fifteen missile launches so far this year and despite Pyongyang declaring a “severe national emergency” last week due to a Covid-19 outbreak, Washington believes its seventh nuclear test and further intercontinental ballistic missile tests may be imminent — and possibly timed to coincide with Biden’s trip.
Hence Washington’s desire to see Japan and South Korea unite.
The problem for Biden? While both appear keen to get closer to Washington, when it comes to…
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