Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons Updated July 15, 2021 Congressional Research Service
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CRS RL32572 Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons-2020
| Force Structure Through the late sand early in George W. Bush Administration, the United States maintained approximately 1,100 nonstrategic nuclear weapons in its active stockpile. Unclassified reports indicate that, of this number, around 500 were air-delivered bombs deployed at bases in Europe. The remainder, including some additional air-delivered bombs and around 320 nuclear The NPR did include caveats to this declaration. The Obama Administration stated that it would not use nuclear weapons in response to chemical or biological attack, if the attacking nation were in compliance with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations. The possibility of a nuclear response remained, however, if a nation armed with nuclear weapons uses nuclear, chemical, biological, or even conventional weapons against US. forces or allies. In addition, the NPR stated that the United States might reconsider the pledge not to respond to biological weapons with nuclear weapons in the future. 78 Nuclear Posture Review, p. 16, https://dod.defense.gov/Portals/1/features/defenseReviews/NPR/2010_Nuclear_Posture_Review_Report.pdf . 79 Department of Defense, Nuclear Posture Review, Washington, DC, February 2, 2018, p. 21, https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872886/-1/-1/1/2018-NUCLEAR-POST URE-REVIEW-FINAL- REPORT PDF. 80 Ibid. p. 38. Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons Congressional Research Service 23 armed sea-launched cruise missiles, were held in storage areas in the United States After the Clinton Administration’s 1994 Nuclear Posture Review, the United States eliminated its ability to return nuclear weapons to US. surface ships (it had retained this ability after removing the weapons under the 1991 PNI). It retained, however, its ability to restore cruise missiles to attack submarines, and it did not recommend any changes in the number of air-delivered weapons deployed in Europe. During this time, the United States also consolidated its weapons storage sites for nonstrategic nuclear weapons. It reportedly reduced the number of these facilities by over 75%” between 1988 and 1994. It eliminated two of its four storage sites for sea-launched cruise missiles, retaining only one facility on each coast of the United States. It also reduced the number of bases in Europe that store nuclear weapons from over 125 bases in the mid-1980s to 10 bases, in seven countries, by The Bush Administration did not recommend any changes for US. nonstrategic nuclear weapons after completing its Nuclear Posture Review in 2001. Reports indicate that it decided to retain the capability to restore cruise missiles to attack submarines because of their ability to deploy, in secret, anywhere on the globe in time of crisis The NPR also did not recommend any changes to the deployment of nonstrategic nuclear weapons in Europe, leaving decisions about their status to the members of the NATO alliance. Nevertheless, according to unclassified reports, the United States did reduce the number of nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and the number of facilities that house those weapons during the George W. Bush Administration. Some reports indicate that most of the weapons were withdrawn from Europe between 2001 and 2006. According to unclassified reports, some are stored at US. bases and would be delivered by US. aircraft others are stored at bases operated by the host nation and would be delivered by that nation’s aircraft if NATO decided to employ nuclear weapons. The Obama Administration did not announce any further reductions to US. nuclear weapons in Europe but it indicated that the United States would consult with our allies regarding the future basing of nuclear weapons in Europe In the months prior to the completion of NATO’s 2010 Strategic Concept, some politicians in some European nations did propose that the United States withdraw these weapons. For example, Guido Westerwelle, Germany’s foreign minister, stated that he supported the withdrawal of US. nuclear weapons from Germany As was noted above, NATO did not call for the removal of these weapons in its new Strategic Concept, but did indicate that it would be open to reducing them as a result of arms control negotiations with Russia. Moreover, in the 2010 NPR, the Obama Administration indicated that it would take the steps necessary to maintain the capability to deploy US. nuclear weapons in Europe. It indicated that the US. Air Force would retain the capability to deliver both nuclear and conventional weapons as it replaced aging F aircraft with the new F Joint Strike Fighter. The NPR also indicated that the United States would conduct a full scope life extension program for the B bomb, the weapon that is currently deployed in Europe, to ensure its functionality with the F This life extension program will consolidate four versions of the B bomb, including the Band B that are currently deployed in Europe, into one version, the B. Reports indicate that this 81 “ NRDC Nuclear Notebook US. Nuclear Forces, 2007,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, January/February 2007. See, also, US. Nuclear Weapons in Europe, 1954 -2004, by Robert S. Norris and Hans M. Kristensen. Bulletin of the Download 1.22 Mb. Share with your friends:
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