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Debates on allies' contributions to alliances focus mainly on the material dimension. Accordingly, smaller partners are often belittled for failing to contribute their fair share to their defensive alliances with more powerful allies. While acknowledging that junior partners' contributions do not match the same level of material capabilities provided by a more significant power like the United States, this study highlights the importance of other intangible contributions. We argue that defensive alliances during peacetime require a crucial, albeit overlooked, ideational contribution by all allies. We examine the US–Japan and ANZUS alliances to explore the process through which junior partners advance the interests of an alliance through ideational contributions. Our findings reveal that Japan and Australia contribute to their respective alliances with the United States by mobilizing fundamental ideas and norms that sustain and promote a specific global order and security vision. We maintain that such intangible contributions are necessary for alliance success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]