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

However, if the United States were to move toward
an Asian model for Europe, it would certainly require
greater emotional <strong>and</strong> psychological nurturing <strong>and</strong>
more robust assurances to its allies that America was
still there when <strong>and</strong> if needed.
THE NUCLEAR POSTURE REVIEW
The 2010 NPR may not have gone as far toward
radical reductions or policy changes as some had
hoped following President Obama’s Prague speech,
but it did serve as an important statement that laid
out the administration’s goals <strong>and</strong> made some modest
moves in the direction of reduced reliance on nuclear
weapons. 11 It emphasized the foundational concept
that “the fundamental role of U.S. nuclear weapons,
which will continue as long as nuclear weapons exist,
is to deter nuclear attack on the United States, our
allies, <strong>and</strong> partners.” 12 It stated that the United States
will continue to strengthen conventional capabilities
<strong>and</strong> reduce the role of nuclear weapons in deterring
non-nuclear attacks, with the objective of “making deterrence
of nuclear attack on the United States or our
allies <strong>and</strong> partners the sole purpose of U.S. nuclear
weapons.” In the new global security environment,
the United States will consider the use of nuclear
weapons only “in extreme circumstances to defend
the vital interests of the United States or its allies <strong>and</strong>
partners.” 13
The NPR focused on five key objectives of U.S.
nuclear weapons policies <strong>and</strong> posture:
1. Preventing nuclear proliferation <strong>and</strong> nuclear terrorism;
2. Reducing the role of U.S. nuclear weapons in
U.S. national security strategy;
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