Arms Control Issues

Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation in 2013 (Continuation)

United States views on international law [1] in relation to Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation: Coinciding with President Obama's speech in Berlin, the White House released a fact sheet on the nuclear weapons employment strategy of the United States in which the President's new guidance is explained. The fact sheet is excerpted below and available at (President's Subdomain) whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/19/fact-sheet-nuclearweapons-employment-strategy-united-states.

More about Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation

Following the release of the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and ratification of the New START Treaty, the President directed the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of State, Department of Energy, and the intelligence community, to conduct a detailed analysis of U.S. nuclear deterrence requirements and policy in order to ensure U.S. nuclear posture and plans are aligned to address today's security environment. This review was based on the principle that a robust assessment of today's security environment and resulting Presidential guidance must drive nuclear employment planning, force structure, and posture decisions.

Development

The President's new guidance:

affirms that the United States will maintain a credible deterrent, capable of convincing any potential adversary that the adverse consequences of attacking the United States or our allies and partners far outweigh any potential benefit they may seek to gain through an attack.

directs DOD to align U.S. defense guidance and military plans with the policies of the NPR, including that the United States will only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States or its allies and partners. The guidance narrows U.S. nuclear strategy to focus on only those objectives and missions that are necessary for deterrence in the 21st century. In so doing, the guidance takes further steps toward reducing the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy.