The Multipolar Delusion

Doubts about the reliability of the United States as a security provider are also encouraging U.S. allies in Europe and Asia to strengthen their own defenses. NATO countries have pledged to raise their overall defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2035, and Japan’s defense spending has reached its target of two percent of GDP this year. There is high and growing public support in some allied countries, such as South Korea, for developing their own nuclear weapons.

Yet building credible conventional and nuclear deterrents will take time. During this transition, these allies will continue to depend on U.S. support and cooperation because neither Tokyo nor Seoul trusts China or Russia to protect their security.