An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it. A great power like the United States gains no advantage and it loses prestige by offering, indeed peddling, its alliances to all and sundry. An alliance should be hard diplomatic currency, valuable and hard to get, and not inflationary paper from the mimeograph machine in the State Department.

Summary

This quote highlights the importance of forming and maintaining alliances wisely. It suggests that adding weak or unreliable members to an alliance does not strengthen it, just as a chain is not strengthened by weak links. The quote argues that a powerful country like the United States does not benefit from offering alliances to anyone and everyone, as it diminishes its prestige. An alliance should be considered valuable and difficult to obtain, not an easily accessible and low-quality commodity. The quote emphasizes the need for alliances to be a result of careful diplomatic decisions, rather than being casually given out.

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