Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons Updated July 15, 2021 Congressional Research Service
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CRS RL32572 Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons-2020
| Changing the Focus of the Debate The preceding sections of this report focus exclusively on US. and Soviet/Russian nonstrategic nuclear weapons. These weapons were an integral part of the Cold War standoff between the two nations. The strategy and doctrine that would have guided their use and the numbers of deployed weapons both figured into calculations about the possibility that a conflict between the two nations might escalate to a nuclear exchange. Other nations—including France, Great Britain, and 127 Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley Jr, “ Russian and Chinese Nuclear Modernization Trends Remarks at the Hudson Institute, May 29, 2019, https://www.dia.mil/News/Speeches-and-T estimonies/Article- View/Article/1859890/russianand-chinese-nuclear-modernization-trends/. 128 Hans M. Kristensen and Matt Korda, “ Russian Nuclear Forces, 2020,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 9, 2020, p. 111, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00963402.2020.1728985 . 129 Department of Defense, Nuclear Posture Review, Washington, DC, February 2, 2018, p. 9, https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872886/-1/-1/1/2018-NUCLEAR-POST URE-REVIEW-FINAL- REPORT PDF. 130 US. Department of State, Adherence to and Compliance with Arms Control, Nonproliferation, and Disarmament Agreements and Commitments, Washington, DC, July 2014, pp. 8 -10, http://www.state.gov/t/avc/rls/rpt/2014/230047.htm. 131 For details on Russia’s noncompliance with the INF Treaty, see CRS Report R, Russian Compliance with the Interm ediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty Background and Issues for Congress, by Amy F. Woolf. Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons Congressional Research Service 32 China—also had nuclear weapons, but these did not affect the central conflict of the Cold War in the same way as US. and Soviet forces. The end of the Cold War, however, and the changing international security environment during the past 30 years, has rendered incomplete any discussion of nonstrategic nuclear weapons that is limited to US. and Russian forces. Because both these nations maintain weapons and plans for their use, the relationship between the two nations could still affect the debate about these weapons. In addition, Russian officials have turned to these weapons as apart of their response to concerns about a range of US. and NATO policies. Nevertheless, both these nations have looked beyond their mutual relationship when considering possible threats and responses that might include the use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons. Both nations have highlighted the threat of the possible use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons by other potential adversaries or non- state actors. Both have indicated that they might use nuclear weapons to deter or respond to threats from other nations. This theme is evident in the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, which calls for the deployment of anew sea-launched cruise missile to address the threat, at least in part, to US. allies from the missile and nuclear programs in North Korea. In addition, a debate about nonstrategic nuclear weapons could cover more than just the US. and Russian arsenals. For example, India and Pakistan might also resort to nuclear weapons use in the event of a conflict. If measured by the range of delivery vehicles and the yield of the warheads, these nations weapons could be considered to be nonstrategic. But each nation could plan to use these weapons in either strategic or nonstrategic roles. Both nations continue to review and revise their nuclear strategies, leaving many questions about the potential role for nuclear weapons in future conflicts. Pakistan, in particular, has considered deploying short-range tactical nuclear weapons with forward-deployed forces, with the intention of using them on the battlefield to blunt a possible Indian attack. China also has nuclear weapons with ranges and missions that could be considered nonstrategic. Many analysts have expressed concerns about the potential for the use of nuclear weapons in a conflict over Taiwan or other areas of China’s interests. This report does not review the nuclear weapons programs in these nations However, when reviewing the issues raised by, problems attributed to, and solutions proposed for nonstrategic nuclear weapons, the report acknowledges the role played by the weapons of these other nations. Download 1.22 Mb. Share with your friends:
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