U.S. Allies and the Politics of Abolishing Nuclear Weapons

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Other

U.S. Allies and the Politics of Abolishing Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear disarmament must become a shared responsibility by identifying the role that non-nuclear-weapon state allies of the United States can play. Specifically, these states should engage with the United States on doctrine and with the NPT Review Conference on deterrence.

By James M. Acton

Published on Apr 22, 2010

Source: American Academy of Arts and Sciences

In Chapter 2 of Shared Responsibilities for Nuclear Disarmament: A Global Debate, an Occasional Paper by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, James Acton responds to Scott Sagan's argument that nuclear disarmament must become a shared responsibility by identifying the role that non-nuclear-weapon state allies of the United States can play. Specifically, he urges these states to engage with the United States on doctrine and with the NPT Review Conference on deterrence.

About the Author

James M. Acton

Jessica T. Mathews Chair, Co-director, Nuclear Policy Program

Acton holds the Jessica T. Mathews Chair and is co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Recent Work

Paper
Nuclear Weapons and the Future of American Power
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Commentary
The Latest Iran Deal Ignores the Lessons of the Past
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Nuclear Policy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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Research

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Despite the agreement’s uncertainty, it’s still a significant development in regional and nuclear policy.

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Nuclear Weapons and the Future of American Power

It seems likely that, no matter what, the power of the U.S. nuclear arsenal will face erosion, not least in the credibility of its commitments to defend allies and the political durability of those alliances.

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