This is CBSI in the world.

I'm John Baxter with Elbridge Colby, the author of The Strategy of Denial, American Defense in an Age of Great Power conflict.

The aim of strength is peace.

However, right now, a coalition can be formed in the event of an attack on Taiwan. However, NATO, is NATO part of

this equation? It doesn't geographically touch upon any of it, but we see now with August,

Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States as part of a coalition in the Indo-Pacific dealing with China.

Is NATO to get involved?

Is that a factor for China?

Yeah, it's a factor.

I don't think Europe is going to play a particularly significant role directly in the military balance in the Pacific.

What I think the main role, you know, Europe is the secondary theater for us.

It's very important, but it's distinctively less important than Asia.

And furthermore, the chance of another state becoming or a state becoming hegemonic

in that region is far less.

I mean, China is half of Asia's GDP.

So it stands a very plausible chance of establishing

a dominant position in the region. Russia is a much smaller fraction. It's not even a largest state

in the region. I mean, Germany is by GDP. So, you know, the threat is less significant,

although significant, and the threat is much more limited than so. And we need to focus

on Asia because we're dealing with a surge power there. So that's really got to be our focus.

So we are going to have to reduce our exposure. I think we should remain in NATO, but I think the key

will be to reduce especially our conventional obligations in Europe and basically shift those to the

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