The Nuclear Posture Review: Overview and Emerging Issues

Publication Date: January 2002

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Military and defense

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Abstract:

The Bush Administration released the results of its Nuclear Posture Review in January 2002. That study states that the United States will no longer base its nuclear planning on the need to address the "Russian threat." Instead, it will develop forces with the capabilities needed to address a range of threats from unspecified countries. Furthermore, offensive nuclear weapons will combine with missile defenses and conventional strike weapons to deter and defeat potential threats.

The United States will reduce its nuclear forces to between 1,700 and 2,200 "operationally deployed" warheads, and will place many of the warheads removed from deployed forces in reserve, as part of a "responsive force." It will also strengthen its nuclear infrastructure so that it can be more "responsive" in sustaining the reliability of U.S. nuclear forces in the future. This study has raised numerous issues, such as how deep the reductions in nuclear forces will actually be, the potential need for new nuclear weapons in the future, and the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense and national security policy.