The United States' Primary Allies and Defense Obligations

The United States (US) has a vast network of allies around the world, but the term 'ally' can be interpreted in multiple ways. While some countries are treaty-bound partners, others are merely strategic or economic allies without formal defense commitments. This article will explore which countries the US is obligated to defend under treaty, and provide a broader understanding of the US's ally status.

Official Treaty-Obligated Allies

The official list of countries with defense obligations towards the US is extensive and includes several key organizations:

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

Albania Belgium Bulgaria Canada Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Turkey United Kingdom

ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty)

Australia New Zealand

Anti-Communist Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT)

Philippines

South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)

Australia France New Zealand Philippines Thailand United Kingdom Thailand (added only)

Treaty of San Francisco

Japan

Mutual Defense Treaty

South Korea

Rio Treaty (Hughes-Bingham Treaty)

Argentina Bahamas Bolivia Brasil Chile Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Guatemala Haiti Honduras Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay Venezuela

Note: The US collectively defends the members of these organizations under the terms of their respective treaties.

Beyond Treaty Obligations: Strategic and Economic Partners

Several countries are considered strategic or economic partners without formal defense commitments. These include:

Key Strategic and Economic Partners

United Kingdom (UK) France Japan South Korea Canada Italy Israel Australia Poland Germany Saudi Arabia The Philippines Most European countries Major Latin American countries Several Asian nations

While these countries do not have explicit mutual defense treaties with the US, their relationship is strong and can be considered strategic partnerships. For example, the UK and France share intelligence and work closely in various political and security domains. Japan and South Korea also have significant economic and defense ties with the US.

The Highlighted Allies

Among these strategic and economic partners, several stand out:

Israel

Israel is at the top of the list due to its strategic importance to the US. The US is committed to maintaining the security of Israel and has provided significant military aid, which has been crucial for Israel's defense.

United Kingdom (UK)

The UK is likely second, given the historical and current close alignment between the two countries in terms of security, military operations, and intelligence sharing. It is one of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group members.

Philippines

Despite not having a formal mutual defense treaty, the Philippines has a strong defense partnership with the US, demonstrated by the Mutual Defense Treaty and the many joint exercises conducted between the two nations.

France and Germany

France and Germany, despite not having mutual defense treaties, are both important allies due to their strategic importance and the robust economic and political relations they share with the US.

Japan and South Korea

Japan and South Korea are also noteworthy as they are both formal partners through the treaty arrangements mentioned above and contribute significantly to regional security.

Additionally, several small Pacific island nations such as Australia and Taiwan also have cooperative relationships with the US.

In conclusion, while the US has a vast network of allies, the term 'ally' can depend on the context. The closest formal allies are those bound by treaties, but strategic and economic partnerships are equally significant.