BACKGROUNDER
No. 3768 | MAY 17, 2023
CENTER FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE
This paper, in its entirety, can be found at https://report.heritage.org/bg3768
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How the United States Can Support
Ukraine Without Compromising
Deterrence in the Indo–Pacific
Thomas Spoehr and Maiya Clark
Assistance provided thus far to Ukraine
has not materially detracted from eorts
to build a strong deterrence posture
toward China.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The anticipated military equipment needs
of Ukraine and Taiwan are not indepen-
dent—there is overlap.
The nation’s strategic focus should be
on its greatest threat—China—even as it
defends key American interests by aiding
Ukraine.
S
upporting the self-defense of Ukraine and the
defense of Taiwan are both in the interest of the
United States. Any form of forced unification
of Taiwan by China would entail unprecedented and
direct harm to U.S. national security and economic
interests and likely prompt an unraveling of alliances
and the regional order in the Indo–Pacific, with
global consequences. A Russia that emerges from the
Ukraine war capable of further territorial aggression
could threaten NATO (triggering U.S. Article V com
-
mitments), non-NATO countries, and international
trade routes.
To date, insucient attention has been given to
ensuring that assistance provided to Ukraine does
not materially detract from eorts to build a strong
deterrence posture toward China. There are options
to deal with this tension, but the Administration and
