The numbers in an alliance or trade agreement do not settle whether a partner will deliver what it promises. Past performance supplies an indicator, but commitments concern future action. Trust therefore involves expectations about how the other party will behave when a problem arises. A transactional relationship keeps track of favors and obligations, while a reciprocal one allows cooperation to develop without settling every exchange immediately. Applied to international relations, that distinction explains why a durable alliance needs more than an attractive set of terms.
Notable Point · 29:14-32:27
Reciprocal trust in alliance diplomacy
Alliance commitments depend on expected future behavior, with reciprocal cooperation extending beyond a running account of favors.