Real friendship between nations, like between individuals, must be earned continuously and bounded by mutual respect for each party’s distinct interests. Anything less isn’t alliance, it’s dependency. And dependency, as the founders understood, is the death of self-governance.

The U.S. should stop treating any foreign state’s security concerns as an automatic invitation to war. No ally deserves a blank check for our blood or treasure. Our foreign policy must prioritize American liberty, interests, and consent.