Tactical Nuclear Weapons and NATO.pdf - Program on Strategic ...

CHAPTER 14
AMERICAN PERSPECTIVES ON TACTICAL
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
James A. Blackwell
In the 21st century, the United States is challenged
by a growing need to extend deterrence beyond the
scope of that which can be accomplished by strategic
systems reserved for retaliation to a massive nuclear
strike on the continental United States. Two distinguished
analysts, Leo Michel <strong>and</strong> Jeffrey Larsen, provide
perspective on how America views the contribution
that U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe can make
to U.S. security through extended deterrence in an
increasingly complex global security environment.
Then Guy Roberts, tapping his extensive arms control
experience at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(<strong>NATO</strong>), takes a prospective look at the upcoming
North Atlantic Council review in Chicago, IL, of
the Alliance’s deterrent <strong>and</strong> defense posture (DDPR),
with particular attention to the U.S. connection.
The challenges of extended deterrence begin with
the question of the nature of security interests the
United States has in Europe <strong>and</strong> how those interests
are related to its interests in other regions as well as
to its position in the international security system.
The relationship with Russia may have been “re-set,”
but the nature <strong>and</strong> longevity of any resulting change
are uncertain. Russia remains the only nuclear-armed
state capable of destroying the United States <strong>and</strong> its
European Allies, maintaining perhaps thous<strong>and</strong>s of
non-strategic nuclear weapons (NSNWs) (formerly
known as tactical nuclear weapons) matched to mis-
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