From NATO to the Gulf: Allies, Access, and the Hidden Architecture of American Power

Description Episode 159 examines the relationship between alliances, military access, and U.S. global power projection.  Summary This episode explores an often overlooked benefit of alliances: wartime access. Dr. Rachel Metz and Ambassador Douglas Lute explain why public debates about allies often focus narrowly on defense spending, while missing the basing, overflight, logistics, intelligence, and political permissions that make U.S. global power possible. The conversation examines how allies and partners enable American military reach, why states may grant, restrict, or deny access, and how domestic politics, retaliation risks, technological change, and shifting global power dynamics can make access harder to secure in future crises. The discussion also considers recent examples from NATO, the Persian Gulf, and Ukraine to show why access is not automatic, why it is a burden allies often bear, and why the United States may need to rethink how it plans, consults, and sustains its alliance relationships. Takeaways Alliances are often judged by burden sharing, but access may be one of their most important strategic benefits. Access includes permission to operate from another state’s land, ports, airspace, territorial waters, or infrastructure. Wartime access allows the United States to project power far from home and sustain operations over time. Allied access helps mitigate the “tyranny of distance” and makes distant theaters militarily reachable. The United States often takes access for granted, but allies and partners can grant, restrict, or deny it. Domestic politics can shape whether a state allows U.S. forces to operate from its territory. Lack of consultation can make allies less willing to support U.S. military operations, especially in wars they view as optional or offensive. Access itself can be a form of burden sharing, because host nations may absorb political, economic, and military risks. Drones, missiles, cyberattacks, sabotage, and other emerging technologies and asymmetric threats may make hosting U.S. forces more costly for allies and partners. Planners should “play green” in exercises and wargames rather than assuming allied access will always be available. U.S. alliances remain a major geostrategic advantage over Russia and China, but that advantage requires active investment and consultation. Ambassador Douglas Lute served as the U.S. Ambassador to NATO from 2013 to 2017. A retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, he served in senior national security roles across multiple administrations. He is a co-signer of a joint statement by 16 U.S. Ambassadors to NATO and Supreme Allied Commanders titled, “NATO is Vital to U.S. National Security.” Dr. Rachel Metz is an Assistant Professor at The George Washington University. She wrote the article this episode focuses on: “Allies and Access: Implications of an American Turn Away from Alliances,” coauthored with Austin Carson and Paul Poast. Her work examines alliances, military cooperation, wartime access, and the conditions under which states allow foreign militaries to operate from their territory. Kyle Atwell is the host for episode 159. Please reach out to him with any questions about the episode or IWI.  The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners to support the community of irregular warfare professionals. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for (always free!) access to our written content, upcoming community events, and other resources. All views expressed in this episode are the personal views of the participants and do not represent those of any government agency or of