Evolution of Nuclear Strategy in US and Russia and its Implications for Arms Control

Summary:

Both the United States and Russia deny that they have increased reliance on nuclear weapons in their defence policy. This is a matter of definition, however.

Indeed, compared to the Cold War, when the two countries permanently maintained high level of alert, ever ready to respond to the anticipated first strike of the other side, and when only the prospect of Armageddon prevented them from the actual use of nuclear weapons, the degree of reliance on nuclear weapons has dramatically declined. Today the threat of nuclear war between the United States and Russia simply does not exist.

If, however one measures reliance on nuclear weapons by the probability of their use, we could say that both countries are at least moving in that direction and that over time this probability is likely to increase to an uncomfortable level.

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