The competitive, zero-sum conquests of two empires were very real, as were the sphere of influence negotiations.

But that’s not the point either way. As I’m reading gp, the point is that if the leaders of the international order want to prevent nuclear proliferation (a worthy goal), they’ll have to do better to protect Russia and China’s neighbors from their territorial aggression. Else, the border states won’t have a better choice than deterrence if they want to survive.

How many Ukraines and Taiwans will it take before a dozen new hands hold their own red buttons?