“If the United States were to reduce our defense commitment to Japan or South Korea and give either one of those countries, basically, a green light to pursue nuclear weapons, in my view it would vastly undermine the security situation in the region, increase the threat posed by nuclear weapons and, ultimately, to the United States,” said Kingston Reif, the director for disarmament and threat reduction policy at the Arms Control Association. Reif told The Hill he is not politically involved this election cycle.
If Japan were to acquire nuclear weapons, South Korea might not be far behind. And then both China and North Korea might be propelled to increase their nuclear arsenals.
“Every president since Eisenhower has pursued a policy of trying to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, and that’s Republican and Democrat,” said Gary Samore, President Obama’s former White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction and an advisor for Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
“It’s a very well established article of faith among both parties that the U.S. should try to prevent additional countries from developing nuclear weapons.”
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