What we talk about when we talk about US strategic ‘credibility’ – from Vietnam to Iran

‘Credibility is on the line’ has long been a refrain guiding U.S. foreign policy.

By: Christopher Nichols, The Ohio State University and Kaveri Sarkar, The Ohio State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 9, 2026

Words: 1,389

Last Updated: 1 week, 1 day ago

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By Christopher Nichols, The Ohio State University and Kaveri Sarkar, The Ohio State University

Where has more than seven months of intermittent war, economic threats, stalled diplomacy and promises of a ceasefire in Iran left the concept of U.S. strategic credibility?

It is a question that political scientists and security and foreign policy experts like us have had to grapple with at each turn of the conflict.

Some commentators …

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