Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Christopher Nichols, Professor of History, Hayes Chair National Security Studies, The Ohio State University

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

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives on May 16, 2026, in Norfolk, Va. Mike Kropf/Getty Images

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.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.