Dependence of United States Air Force on its Allies and Partners

TOPIC SPONSOR: AF Futures

In what ways is the United States Air Force dependent on its allies and partners for operational effectiveness?

• Abate, Alexander N., "The United States and Small States: Theory, Negotiations and Results," SAASS thesis, 2025, 139 pgs. 
• Agnotri, Grp. Capt. Prashant (Indian Air Force), "Shared Situational and Domain Awareness (SSDA) as an Initial Framework for Strengthening Quad," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2022, 33 pgs. 
• Alahbabi, Col. Abdulhadi (UAE), "The Arab Gulf States' Responses to United States Drawdown from the Arabian Gulf," AWC PSP 2022, 36 pgs. 
• Atwood, Lt. Col. Justin, "Air Advising Strategy in Great Power Competition; A Vietnam Case Study in Reflection," SAASS thesis, 2025, 102 pgs. 
• Augello, Capt. Christopher et al, "Survive to Fight: The Flying Circus," SOS AUAR, 2024, 10 pgs. 
• Batiste Jr., Maj. Allen, "Financial Equations--Strategic Importance + Financial Support=Continued U.S. Basing Abroad," ACSC elective paper (Dilemmas of Global Basing), 2018, 8 pgs.
• Bautista, Lt. Col. Ajello, "The US and China Great Power Competition: A New Era of Cold War," AWC elective paper (Chinese Warfighter), 2021, 3 pgs.
• Bowman, Lt. Col. Thomas R., "Is America Prepared for Great Power Competition? Examining US Policy for a New Era," AWC PSP 2021, 41 pgs.
• Carroll, Capt. Andrew et al, "Enhancing Taiwan's Deterrence and Resilience Posture: Utilizing PDA to Bolster the Taiwanese Air Force," SOS AUAR, 2024, 16  pgs. 
• Constantine, Lt. Col. Jason, "The Department of Defense's Best Weapon in the Pacific," AF Fellows Paper (Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Georgia Tech), 2024, 3 pgs.

• Crespo, Lt. Col. Jose L., "It Takes three to tango: India Must First Turn West," AWC SSP, 2025, 36 pgs. 

• de Haas, Lt. Col. Marinus, "Smart Defense: Penny Wise or Pound Foolish?"  AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2021, 32 pgs. 

• Dowling II, Peter H., "'Good Effects, Overall Mission Successful': General Chennault's Effectiveness Translated to the TACP Leader," SAASS thesis, 2021, 76 pgs.
• Dua, Ajay P., "Tactical Tikka Masala: Spicing up US-India Air Exercises," SAASS thesis, 2024, 107 pgs. 
• Earle, Maj. Dante, "No Better Friend--No Worse Enemy," Air Force Fellows paper, 2022, 2 pgs.
• Earle, Maj. Dante, "The Weakest Link: Blockchain and the Future of NATO," SAASS thesis, 2023, 146 pgs. 
• Edsen, David, "Turkey and the United States: A Vital, Turbulent Relationship," AWC elective paper, 2020, 8 pgs.
• Evertson, Maj. Guy, "A Break from U.S.-Led NATO Operations: NATO Effectiveness Utilizing Integrated Units to Provide International Security for the Alliance," GCPME thesis, 2023, 26 pgs.
• Faccini, Col. Alberto, "European Defense--It Is Time to Build Hard Power," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2020, 30 pgs. 
• Firman, Lt. Col. Robert A., "Security Cooperation and Great Power Competition," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2019, 21 pgs. 
• Forristal, Maj. Ryan M., "Red Light, Green Light: The Importance of Partners in a Contested Logistics Battle near the South China Sea," AFGC thesis, 2025, 40 pgs. 
  • Forristal answers this by emphasizing that the U.S. cannot sustain a conflict with China near the South China Sea through a solo effort and is entirely dependent on friendly regional nations for alternate basing and supply stock options. He points out that the U.S. relies on ASEAN partners, such as the Philippines, for access to agreed locations via the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and for the ability to procure locally sourced resources through Mutual Logistics Support Agreements (MLSA). By actively pursuing these agreements and training alongside partners through multinational exercises like Talisman Sabre, the U.S. builds interoperability and shared logistical frameworks that serve as critical force multipliers when freedom of movement is denied.
• Gracia, Maj. Jimmy S., "From WWII Relics to Modern Strongholds: Revamping Indo-Pacific Defense," AFGC 2025, 56 pgs. 
  • Gracia answers this by illustrating that the U.S. strategy to counter China's anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) capabilities relies almost entirely on a network of bases hosted by allied nations, including Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia. He emphasizes that this dependence makes the U.S. highly vulnerable to political complexities, as maintaining access requires delicate navigation of land use agreements and Status of Forces Agreements (SOFAs) amid local protests over sovereignty and environmental concerns. Because these host nations must constantly balance their U.S. security ties against the threat of economic retaliation from China, Gracia concludes that the U.S. must actively strengthen alliance frameworks (like the Quad and Blue Dot Network) and offer diplomatic and economic alternatives to secure its operational footprint.
• Goar, Maj. Justin L., "No Better Friend: Strategic Clarity and Defense Networks in Southeast Asia," AFGC thesis, 2024, 45 pgs. 
• Golden, Lt. Col. David, "Economic Growth and Political Stability: The Quest for Power in India," AWC RSS paper, 2023, 10 pgs.

• Gramling, Lt. Col. Robert, "Peace in the INDO-PACIFIC: Who Has the Plan?" Air Force Fellows paper, 2024, 2 pgs. 

• Hart, Maj. Matthew, "The Bear, The Dragon and Hybrid Warfare: The Role of Foreign Internal Defense in Great Power Competition," ACSC elective paper (Small Wars), 2020, 40 pgs. 

• Hayworth, Dr. Jordan R., ed. "Operation Inherent Resolve: Insights and Perspectives from Air University," Published by AU Press, 2023, 332 pgs. 

• Hernandez, Lt. Col. Ignacio (Spanish AF), "The Rebalance of NATO: The Process towards NATO 2030," AWC PSP, 2020, 36 pgs.
• Hoagland, Lt. Col. Cody, "Regional Officers: The Keystone to Global Integrated Operations," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2020, 39 pgs. 
• Hobson, Andrew W., "Fighting with Friends: The Impact of Alliances on Force Design," SAASS thesis, 2024, 117 pgs. 
• Hofferman, Maj. Nathan R., "India: A Stabilizing Partner to Ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 25 pgs.
• Holston, Joel S., "Building the Neighborhood Watch: Partnered Integration of Airborne ISR for Indo-Pacific Competition," OLMP thesis, 2024, 39 pgs. 
• Hughes, Lt. Col. Tyler, "The Middle Matters: How a Focus on Middle Powers Can Inform US Grand Strategy," AWC paper, 2025, 33 pgs. 
• Kim, Lt. Col. Daniel, "Building Partner Capacity in Cyberspace to Enhance Deterrence," SAASS Thesis, 2021, 68 pgs.
• Kitzke, Lt. Col. Nathan, "Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean," RSS Paper, AWC 2023, 9 pgs.
• Koeltzow, Col. Christopher, Brent Peterson and Eric Williams, "F-16s Unleashed: How They Will Impact Ukraine's War," AF Fellows research, published by Center for Strategic & International Studies, June 11, 2024.
• Lageveen, Lt. Col. Wielko (Royal Netherlands AF), "Why Europe Should Focus on NATO Instead of the EU for Its Security," AWC Strategic Studies paper, 2020, 32 pgs. 
• Larson, Stephen M., "Integrated by Necessity: Understanding the United States-Japan Defense Relationship," SAASS thesis, 2025, 102 pgs.
  • Larson addresses the US military's dependence on allies by showing how the US relies on the JSDF to compensate for its own capability or posture limitations. He illustrates that a reduced US military footprint in a region does not necessarily equate to a weakened defense posture if the host nation's forces are deliberately integrated to support critical capability shortfalls. During the Global War on Terrorism, for example, the Bush administration specifically requested Japanese military support to "show the flag," leading to JSDF deployments in the Indian Ocean that directly supported US anti-terrorism operations. Larson’s analysis reveals that the US military relies on this integration with allied forces to maintain its security guarantees and operational effectiveness without requiring excessive American manpower or financial expenditures in the region.
• Margariti, Glykeria, Nuttpasint Chet-udomlap, Matthew Swanson and Charles Target, "The Application of Game Theory to Brexit Negotiations," AF Fellows Paper, 2020, 23 pgs.
• McClary, Captain Bria, "Leveraging Ally and Partner Nation Intelligence, Surveillance and Cyber Capabilities to Defend against the Taiwan Scenario," SOS AUAR elective paper, 2021, 13 pgs.
• McKinney, Lt. Col. Matthew, USMC, "Grand Strategy Amidst Great Power Competition: Aligning Resources to Match the Rhetoric," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2021, 34 pgs. 
• McWhirter, Maj. Matthew, "United States Embassy Operations in Security Cooperation: Assisting UAE Stabilization Efforts in the MENA," ACSC elective paper (Peace and Stability Operations), 2019, 14 pgs. 
• Nasto, Lt. Col. Michele, Italian Air Force, "European Strategic Autonomy—It is Time to Leave the Bench," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2021, 39 pgs. 
• Nedolast, Major Justin, Major Alex Precella and Major Mike Redding, "Posturing Through Partnership: Airpower Imperatives for the Indo-Pacific Grey Zone," ACSC Paper, 2021, 14 pgs. WINNER of Strategic Air Command Museum's Research Excellence Award
  • ​Published on Wild Blue Yonder, 10 March 2022. 
• Palombi, Lt. Col. Emma, Italian Air Force, "NATO's Role in Space: How and Why NATO Member States Should Expand Their Purpose and Capabilities in Space," AWC Strategic Studies Paper (West Space Seminar), 2023, 35 pgs. 
• Pendergrass, Maj. John, "How to Enable Friends and Defeat China: Five Lessons from the Napoleonic Wars," ACSC Elective paper (Napoleonic Warfare), 2022, 8 pgs.
• Phillips, Maj. David P., and Maj. William C. Hardy, "Balancing Power: Establishing the Indo-Pacific Treaty Organization as a Political and Nuclear Alliance," ACSC thesis, 2025, 97 pgs. 
• Reinhardt, Major Daniel P., "There is No 'I' in Warfare: The Air Force Must Continue to Invest Effort and Resources towards Improving Integrations with Allies and Partners," GCPME/ACSC paper, 2022, 34 pgs. 
• Reyes-Diaz, Col. Mauricio, "Manta, Yes or No: An Ongoing Debate Involving the Issue of a Foreign Military Presence in Ecuador," AWC elective paper, 2019, 9 pgs. 
• Richter, Lt. Col. Eugene C., "Achieving Alliance Space Deterrence: A Proposal for NATO 'Space Defense'" AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2024, 38 pgs.  Winner of the AWC Excellence in Space Research Award
• Rizvi, Capt. Natasha, "Improving AM&E in the Security Cooperation Field," AUAR SOS, 2020, 10 pgs.
• Rummel, Maj. Joshua A., "'STRIKES ALL OVER PACIFIC!': ACE Risks Greater Destruction Throughout the Indo-Pacific," AF Fellows Paper, 2024, 2 pgs. 
  • ​Subsequently Published in Wild Blue Yonder

• Sayers, Michael, "Balancing Basing: How the US Decides to Close Overseas Military Bases," SAASS thesis, 2025, 98 pgs.

  • Sayers addresses the military's dependence on allies by illustrating that the U.S. global force posture and operational effectiveness are inherently at the mercy of the political goodwill and domestic stability of its host nation partners. He argues that the ability to operate from overseas bases is not determined by military necessity or technological redundancy alone, but is heavily dictated by a host nation's willingness—or ability—to insulate basing agreements from domestic political opposition. Using the closures of Clark Air Base and Howard Air Base, he highlights that regardless of the U.S. military's operational desires, democratic transitions, shifting regime types, or nationalist movements within the host nation can force the eviction of U.S. forces and dismantle critical operational nodes. Ultimately, Sayers concludes that U.S. operational effectiveness is deeply dependent on its allies because maintaining a forward-deployed network requires constant, careful management of host nation relationships to ensure the political shelter necessary to sustain access.

• Schumacher. Lt. Col. Benjamin, "A Latticework for Collective Defense in the Indo-Pacific: Source of Strength or Fragile Structure?" AWC SSP, 2025, 32 pgs. 

• Simon, Col. Peter, "Redefining the Future: Overcoming Strategic Challenges in the Hungarian Air Force," AWC Strategic Studies Paper, 2024, 17 pgs.  Winner of the AWC Military Operations Outstanding Research Award

• Skinner, Maj. Justin, "Preventing the Inevitable: Okinawan Opposition to the Relocation of Futenma MCAS," ACSC Elective paper (Dilemmas of Global Basing), 2020, 9 pgs. 

• Smith, Maj. Michael D., "Dynamic Force Employment in the Indo-Pacific: Making a Case for Air Force Special Tactics," Air Force Fellows paper, 2021, 69 pgs.

• Spinella, Thomas W., "A Tale of Two Airbases: A Comparative Analysis of U.S. Government Airbase Divestment and Retainment Decisions," SAASS thesis, 2025, 87 pgs. 

  • In what ways is the United States Air Force dependent on its allies and partners for operational effectiveness? Spinella answers this by emphasizing that the USAF's operational effectiveness and global power projection are heavily dependent on the political stability and support of host nations. He demonstrates that operational access, physical security, and the financial costs of airbases are primarily determined by host-nation politics rather than strict military necessity. For example, nationalist movements, sovereignty concerns, and Islamic opposition forced the closure of Clark Air Base in the Philippines and Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB) in Saudi Arabia, despite their strategic military value. Conversely, bases like Kadena in Japan and Al Udeid (AUAB) in Qatar endured and expanded because their host governments actively supported the U.S. presence and successfully insulated basing policies from domestic political opposition.

• Tompkins, Lt. Col. William, "NATO Intelligence Sharing: Lessons Learned from the Ukraine-Russian War," AWC SSP, 2025, 26 pgs. 

• Vidal, Lt. Col. Brus, "Understanding Key Base Politics Factors when Considering Potential Basing Locations: Lessons from the Kyrgyzstan Model," AWC Elective paper (Dilemmas of Global Basing), 2018, 10 pgs.

• Wang, Lt. Col. Timmy, "Black Cats: Republic of China Air Force U-2 Squadron," SAASS thesis 2025, 91 pgs.  
  • Wang answers this by illustrating how the U.S. depended entirely on the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) to conduct high-altitude U-2 reconnaissance missions over mainland China during the Cold War. Following the severe political fallout of the Soviet Union shooting down U.S. pilot Gary Powers, the U.S. lacked the political appetite to risk American pilots over China. By partnering with the ROCAF's 35th Squadron (the "Black Cats"), the U.S. was able to maintain operational deniability and minimize political exposure while relying on Taiwanese pilots and bases to successfully collect critical strategic intelligence on the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) nuclear weapons programs, missile test sites, and troop movements.
• Weaver, Kesler, "National Guard State Partnership Program and Peace Keeping Challenges in AFRICOM," AWC Elective paper, 2021, 14 pgs.
• Wilson, Maj. Latate, "US Basing and Host Nation Politics," AWC elective, ACSC student, 2018, 9 pgs.
• Woodward, William, "Stability Then and Now: Article 9 and the American Military in Japan," AWC elective paper, 2020, 7 pgs.
• Wyatt, Britney L., "Utilizing Qatar to Build Allied States and Influence in the Middle East," AF Global college thesis, 2025, 60 pgs. 
• Youngquist, Lt. Col. Benjamin D., "Relooking at America's Treaty and Alliance Structure in the Indo-Pacific," AWC PSP, 2021, 35 pgs.