Summary: Poland, Japan, and South Korea need to develop their own nuclear weapons to ensure their security against threats from countries like China and North Korea. Reliance on the U.S. nuclear umbrella is becoming less reliable, making it risky for these nations. By acquiring nuclear deterrents, these countries could help stabilize the global balance of power and deter aggression from totalitarian states.
I don’t like nuclear proliferation any more than you do, but in the new terrifying world of authoritarianism and great power conquests, it’s probably inevitable; best to do it in a way that preserves as much as possible of the stability and freedom that Europe and Asia have rightfully come to treasure. (View Highlight)