“Key to the defense of the free world”: the past, present and future relevance of NATO for US allies in the Asia–Pacific

NATO in an Illiberal World

“…31 In the Asia-Pacific, NATO must naturally intensify its existing partnerships with Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand to counter China's rise. 32 NATO's geographical focus on the Euro-Atlantic area accentuates the utility of cooperation with these partners to protect the openness of liberal societies in the face of a rival in the field of trade and technology. The Asia-Pacific partners are similar to the Advanced Partners in terms of values, although socially and economically they are naturally less integrated with the NATO countries.…”