The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Unpacking Security Guarantees for Ukraine
Aug 28, 2025
Eric Ciaramella, a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, delves into the complexities of U.S. security commitments during a captivating discussion. He compares historical defense treaties, like those with Japan and Israel, to Ukraine's current security needs. Ciaramella highlights how Ukraine could learn from Israel's security strategies while navigating ambiguous NATO commitments. The conversation underscores the importance of clear diplomatic language and congressional support in shaping effective security guarantees for Ukraine, particularly in the context of Russian aggression.
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Cold War Treaties Reflected Reality
- Early Cold War U.S. alliances often codified existing on-the-ground commitments rather than creating new protections out of thin air.
- Credibility came from basing, troop presence, and decades of integrated planning, not just treaty text.
Hidden Commitments Prompted Oversight
- Much of U.S. foreign security policy relied on informal executive agreements and nontransparent arrangements beyond formal treaties.
- Congressional pushback in the late 1960s sought visibility and limits on creeping executive commitments.
Kissinger’s Memorandum Laid Israel’s Basis
- Henry Kissinger's shuttle diplomacy after the 1973 Yom Kippur War produced a 1975 memorandum that anchored large U.S. support for Israel.
- That informal deal grew into predictable funding, weapons sales, and a thriving Israeli defense industry.