Since returning to the Oval Office almost 19 months ago, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked the United States' closest allies — from Canada to Spain to Denmark. But at the same time, Trump takes pride in having "great" relations with far-left North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. And according to retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, Trump is destroying longtime alliances at a time when the United States needs them more than ever.

Writing for the conservative website The Bulwark, Hertling — who formerly served as commander of U.S. Army Europe — explains, "Over the weekend, President Trump made a point of complementing our enemy, North Korea, and antagonizing our ally, South Korea. Continuing the pattern yesterday, he threatened to bomb another longtime American security partner, Oman. Asked about Oman's talks with Iran concerning the Strait of Hormuz, which borders both countries, President Trump reportedly told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, 'If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the s–– out of them.'"

Trump, Hertling observes "seemed to double down on" his "threat" on August 17 — which, the U.S. Army veteran laments, is typical of his "pattern" of bullying U.S. allies.

"The president is threatening to bomb a country that for nearly half a century, has quietly provided the United States with military access, logistical support, diplomatic assistance, and something increasingly rare in the Middle East: the ability to communicate with friends as well as enemies," Hertling argues. "For decades, Oman hasn't been in the way, it has often been the way."

Herlting cites South Korea as another longtime U.S. ally Trump is insulting.

"Trump ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises with South Korea, criticizing Seoul for failing to support his Iran policy while again emphasizing his relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un," Hertling writes. "Meanwhile, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries in Europe have been confronting increasingly brazen drone activity and suspected Russian provocations, without any kind of presidential threat directed toward Moscow. An emerging pattern is taking shape, and America's friends are certainly noticing it ... No nation expects the United States to agree with it on everything. What nations must be able to expect is that a disagreement with Washington will remain a disagreement — not suddenly become the dissolution of an alliance or even a threat of military attack."

Hertling continues, "A larger lesson here is about American leadership. Alliances are relationships built over years, administrations, wars, crises and disagreements. Presidents inherit them from their predecessors, sustain them for their successors, and occasionally strengthen them through careful diplomacy. But presidents can also destroy them."

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