Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/256723 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
SWP Comment No. 62/2021
Publisher: 
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin
Abstract: 
US President Joe Biden is considering a change to US nuclear declaratory policy. Ever since the beginning of the nuclear age, Washington has stated that it could retaliate with a nuclear response to both nuclear and non-nuclear attacks. This declaratory policy may soon be restricted: President Biden would like to reduce the role of nuclear weapons through a 'sole purpose' (SP) declaration. Accordingly, the sole purpose of US nuclear weapons would be to deter and, if necessary, respond to nuclear attacks. The United States would pledge to never use nuclear weapons against conventional aggression. However, contrary to the expectations of SP pro­ponents, this change would hardly reduce the nuclear risks that the United States face today. Moreover, US allies in Europe and Asia already fear that SP would diminish their security. For Germany specifically, it is worth asking what kind of political and military consequences an SP policy could have.
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Research Report

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