Improving Cooperation with Allies and Partners

Allies are at the center of U.S. efforts to counter China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia and to otherwise ensure America’s security. Indeed, close ties to allies are a notable U.S. competitive advantage compared with potential adversaries. Yet, these allies often are not given timely and detailed intelligence against shared threats and are excluded from strategic planning even though their own roles are often central to U.S. plans. In addition, U.S. arms sales and other forms of security assistance often involve cumbersome procedures, denying allies important capabilities or at least delaying their integration.

A failure to properly incorporate the perspectives, interests, and capabilities of allies could weaken regional deterrence, undermine assurance of allies, and require far more blood and treasure from the United States should conflict break out. Better cooperation, in contrast, can increase the credibility of U.S. commitments, improve the performance of coalition operations, reduce the cost to U.S. taxpayers, and advance U.S. interests.

This CSIS series, supported by the Smith Richardson Foundation, examines U.S. relationships with key allies from the perspectives of both sides. This project also offers actionable recommendations for how the United States can improve cooperation with its allies to increase burden sharing, improve warfighting, and strengthen deterrence.