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

3. Maintaining strategic deterrence <strong>and</strong> stability at
reduced nuclear force levels;
4. Strengthening regional deterrence <strong>and</strong> reassuring
U.S. allies <strong>and</strong> partners; <strong>and</strong>,
5. Sustaining a safe, secure, <strong>and</strong> effective nuclear
arsenal. 14
It is the fourth objective on this list that we normally
think of when we consider the role of NSNWs. The
NPR stated that the United States is “fully committed
to strengthening bilateral <strong>and</strong> regional security ties
<strong>and</strong> working with allies <strong>and</strong> partners to adapt these
relationships to 21st century challenges. Such security
relationships are critical in deterring potential threats,
<strong>and</strong> can also serve our nonproliferation goals.” 15 Nonproliferation
is served by dissuasion—“demonstrating
to neighboring states that their pursuit of nuclear
weapons will only undermine their goal of achieving
military or political advantages”—<strong>and</strong> by reassurance
to America’s non-nuclear allies <strong>and</strong> partners, assuring
them “that their security interests can be protected
without their own nuclear deterrent capabilities.” 16
For nearly 60 years, the United States has provided
a nuclear umbrella over its allies through a combination
of means—the strategic forces of the U.S. Triad,
NSNWs deployed forward in key regions, <strong>and</strong> U.S.-
based nuclear weapons that could be deployed forward
quickly to meet regional contingencies. As the
NPR makes clear, the mix of deterrent means has varied
over time <strong>and</strong> from region to region.
This long-st<strong>and</strong>ing tangible commitment to U.S.
allies in Europe, however, has been somewhat attenuated
since the end of the Cold War by the reduction
in the number, location, <strong>and</strong> visibility of forwarddeployed
U.S. nuclear weapons. Still, a small number
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