{
  "id": 1674161,
  "title": "[Column] Does the US deserve allies’ trust?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/column-does-the-us-deserve-allies-trust-1674161",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T06:36:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hankyoreh",
    "slug": "hankyoreh",
    "url": "https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/1273437.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The US undersecretary of defense for policy, Elbridge Colby, stated in a recent speech that the United States is deeply committed to maintaining a favorable balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. He emphasized that it is a misconception to consider the US as unreliable or untrustworthy. Instead, Colby argued that the Trump administration has adopted a flexible and realistic approach to defense, one that requires allies and partners to assume a fair share of the burden of common defense. He further criticized the notion of building a middle power alliance excluding the US, deeming it a superficial idea. Colby highlighted that true deterrence stems from the presence of hard power and the political will to use it, implying that only the US possesses these capabilities. During a symposium held by the US Strategic Command, Colby discussed three aspects of the US' nuclear strategy. He suggested that a regional conventional war that could escalate to a nuclear exchange is a more significant concern than a direct attack on the continental US. Colby also mentioned that the use of low-yield tactical nuclear weapons, or \"theater capabilities,\" could be considered as a rational option. Furthermore, he indicated that the use of such nuclear weapons is under review at the highest levels of US leadership, potentially leading to their forward deployment in Korea or Japan to counteract China's advancements. While Colby's remarks reaffirm the US' commitment to the Indo-Pacific and warn against doubting American capabilities, they raise questions about the US' decision-making process and leadership. Critics argue that the US should demonstrate more effective diplomacy and build trust with its allies, rather than solely relying on deterrence and the balance of power.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hankyoreh",
        "title": "[Column] Does the US deserve allies’ trust?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/column-does-the-us-deserve-allies-trust",
        "published": "2026-08-18T06:37:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}