[nikdaheratik]

It isn't brazen arrogance. Limiting the number of countries that have nuclear weapons is a clear (though not explicitly stated) foreign policy goal. The U.S. wants to preserve the current balance of power, and prevent big wars that could disrupt its interests in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Keeping one state from getting nukes and forcing other neighboring states to do the same, or raising tensions like has happened between India and Pakistan fits right into that goal. So does stationing troops in Germany, Japan, Korea, and keeping a fleet ready in the Middle East. And it's not really about ultimatums, as much as using every tool it can to change the cost/benefit analysis of nukes to keep most countries from going for them. No one wants to be the next North Korea, and that's one big reason why the embargo against Iran helped to bring them to the negotiating table.

The U.S. policy on Israel has probably done more to irritate other states than the nuclear policy as alot of states hate Israel, but most don't care as much about getting nuclear weapons. Japan and a number of other big countries could get them if they wanted. OTOH, a number of countries "hate" the U.S. but wouldn't want to take over the cost of playing policeman all the time, and overall like the stability policy brings.