Dec. 15 (Asia Today) -- Foreign Affairs, a publication that holds outsized influence in U.S. foreign policy debates, published an essay last month arguing that" nuclear armament by Canada, Germany and Japan could stabilize the international order."
The piece, which is widely seen as offering a favorable assessment of Japanese nuclear armament, underscores a growing view that the United States may no longer be able to sustain its role as the "ultimate nuclear guarantor" in every region. The resulting shift is also pushing South Korea's long-sensitive nuclear debate into the realm of practical policy.
The essay was written by two University of Oklahoma scholars, Moritz S. Graefrath and Mark A. Raymond. Beyond the argument itself, the fact that Foreign Affairs carried it is notable. It signals that in U.S. strategic circles, the idea that a trusted ally could acquire nuclear weapons to share regional defense burdens is no longer treated as off-limits.
The discussion of Japan stands out. The authors argue that an uclear-armed Japan could contribute to stability in East Asia and help supplement U.S. extended deterrence.
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