Commentary
The ability of the United States to extend deterrence to key allies like Australia and Japan, and to partners like Taiwan, depends upon two considerations. First, there are political considerations, which include the credibility of the United States to honor its commitments and willpower to incur the risks inherent in providing another state the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Second, it requires sufficient military capabilities—the conventional and nuclear forces the United States possesses—to defeat the enemy’s military objectives or inflict unacceptable punishment upon the enemy.
