Part 9/17:
The shifting attitudes within US administrations influence global proliferation risks. Shea notes that during the Trump presidency, questions arose about the value of NATO and extended deterrence, leading some countries to reconsider their reliance on US security guarantees. This reticence has potential ripple effects—if key allies doubt the US’s commitment, they might pursue their own nuclear capabilities to control their security, fueling horizontal proliferation.
Shea points out that recent US policies, which scrutinize alliances and question collective defense commitments, could inadvertently encourage more countries to seek nuclear arsenals as a safeguard against perceived abandonment or instability.