U.S. still watching allies for alignment of interests even amid defense pullback, analyst says

An F-35C Lightning II, attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), May 25, 2026.US CENTCOMA U.S. pullback from Asia will give regional allies more responsibility for their own defense — but Washington is still watching for alignment with its own interests, according to Derek Grossman, professor of political science at the University of Southern California. "The guiding mantra has been less of the U.S. is more, so long as countries who are doing things in the absence of the United States are doing things in line with what the U.S. wants," Grossman told "Squawk Box Asia" on Wednesday.Grossman's comments came after President Donald Trump reiterated calls to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, citing the cost of drills, Seoul's refusal to support U.S. war efforts against Iran, and his "good" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This week, the U.S. military also moved to cancel joint marine drills with South Korea that were scheduled for next month, due to constraints from the Iran war. Washington appears willing to a...