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Biden's proposal for a US "sole purpose" nuclear declaratory policy: consequences for allies in Asia, NATO and Germany
Bidens Idee einer "sole purpose"-Nukleardoktrin für die USA: Folgen für Verbündete in Asien, die NATO und Deutschland
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Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik -SWP- Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit
Abstract US President Joe Biden is considering a change to US nuclear declaratory policy. Ever since the beginning of the nuclear age, Washington has stated that it could retaliate with a nuclear response to both nuclear and non-nuclear attacks. This declaratory policy may soon be restricted: President Biden... view more
US President Joe Biden is considering a change to US nuclear declaratory policy. Ever since the beginning of the nuclear age, Washington has stated that it could retaliate with a nuclear response to both nuclear and non-nuclear attacks. This declaratory policy may soon be restricted: President Biden would like to reduce the role of nuclear weapons through a "sole purpose" (SP) declaration. Accordingly, the sole purpose of US nuclear weapons would be to deter and, if necessary, respond to nuclear attacks. The United States would pledge to never use nuclear weapons against conventional aggression. However, contrary to the expectations of SP proponents, this change would hardly reduce the nuclear risks that the United States face today. Moreover, US allies in Europe and Asia already fear that SP would diminish their security. For Germany specifically, it is worth asking what kind of political and military consequences an SP policy could have. (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
United States of America; defense policy; security policy; nuclear weapon; military doctrine; retaliation; deterrence; foreign policy
Classification
Peace and Conflict Research, International Conflicts, Security Policy
Free Keywords
Nuklearstrategie; Erstanwendung nuklearer Waffen; Strategie der massiven Vergeltung; Bestimmungsfaktoren/Ziele strategischer Konzeption; Außenpolitische Neuorientierung
Document language
English
Publication Year
2021
City
Berlin
Page/Pages
8 p.
Series
SWP Comment, 62/2021
DOI
https://doi.org/10.18449/2021C62
ISSN
2747-5107
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications