Trump’s Nuclear Posture Review: Top Take-Aways
The Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), just released, lays out a policy
that will make the use of nuclear weapons more likely and undercut US security.
It includes a wide range of changes
to US nuclear weapons policy and calls for deploying additional types of
nuclear weapons.
Some of these changes can take place relatively quickly—within the time remaining in President Trump’s term—and others will take years to realize. In the latter case, however, political repercussions could occur well before completion of the effort.
Some of these changes can take place relatively quickly—within the time remaining in President Trump’s term—and others will take years to realize. In the latter case, however, political repercussions could occur well before completion of the effort.
This post looks at some of the
near-term changes and consequences. In a future post, I’ll talk about some of
the longer-term implications of the NPR.
The NPR states:
The United States will … strengthen
the integration of nuclear and non-nuclear military planning. Combatant
Commands and Service components will be organized and resourced for this
mission, and will plan, train, and exercise to integrate U.S. nuclear and
non-nuclear forces and operate in the face of adversary nuclear threats and
employment. (p. VIII)
The document asserts the new US
policy “is not intended to enable, nor does it enable, ‘nuclear
war-fighting.’”(p. XII) For a regional conflict, “nuclear war-fighting” refers
to using nuclear weapons in an ongoing way once a conventional conflict has
expanded to include nuclear weapons.
And if training to use nuclear and
conventional forces in an integrated way isn’t preparing for nuclear
war-fighting, what is? Russia and China will certainly view it that way, and
the exercises themselves will be provocative.
The new policy deliberately blurs the line between nuclear and conventional forces and eliminates a clear nuclear fire break. Doing so is not in US security interests.
The new policy deliberately blurs the line between nuclear and conventional forces and eliminates a clear nuclear fire break. Doing so is not in US security interests.
Low-yield, accurate nuclear weapons
are often described as “suited for war-fighting,” and would be an important
component of the integrated nuclear and conventional force that the
administration is planning for.
As discussed below, the administration plans to deploy a new lower yield weapon on submarines. But the United States already has two types of low-yield weapons that it could use as part of an integrated force.
As discussed below, the administration plans to deploy a new lower yield weapon on submarines. But the United States already has two types of low-yield weapons that it could use as part of an integrated force.
The United States currently deploys 100 B61 bombs in the United States for
delivery by long-range bombers, and 150 B61 bombs at US airbases in five NATO
countries—Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey—that would be
delivered by pilots from those countries using their short-range aircraft.
(Hundreds more are in storage.)
These bombs allow the user to choose
the yield of the weapon; depending on the variant, the yield ranges from 0.3 to
170 kilotons. The lowest yield of 0.3 kilotons is 50 times smaller than
the yield of the bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki—which certainly
qualifies as a warfighting weapon.
The United States also deploys 200
nuclear air-launched cruise missiles in the United States for delivery by long
range bombers. These have variable yields ranging from 5 to 150 kilotons.
With these weapons the US military
can begin planning, training and exercising with an integrated force of
conventional and nuclear weapons—including low-yield weapons—within a year or
two.
Broadening scenarios for using nuclear weapons first
The new policy described in the NPR
broadens the scenarios under which the United States would use nuclear weapons
first, thus lowering the threshold for first use. The document explicitly lists
a wide array of non-nuclear attacks that could constitute
grounds for a US nuclear response.
These “include, but are not limited to, attacks on the U.S. allied or partner civilian population or infrastructure, and attacks on U.S. or allied nuclear forces, their command and control, or warning and attack assessment capabilities.” (p. 21)
These “include, but are not limited to, attacks on the U.S. allied or partner civilian population or infrastructure, and attacks on U.S. or allied nuclear forces, their command and control, or warning and attack assessment capabilities.” (p. 21)
Ironically, the Trump NPR makes a
very strong case for a no-first-use policy. It states:
Russia must … understand that
nuclear first-use, however limited, will fail to achieve its objectives,
fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict, and trigger incalculable and
intolerable costs for Moscow.
Our strategy will ensure Russia understands that any use of nuclear weapons, however limited, is unacceptable. (p. 30)
Our strategy will ensure Russia understands that any use of nuclear weapons, however limited, is unacceptable. (p. 30)
Surely, the same is true for the
first use of nuclear weapons by the United States. However limited, US nuclear
first-use will “fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict, and trigger
incalculable and intolerable costs.” Any such use is “unacceptable.”
Deploying new lower-yield submarine-launched weapons
The NPR states that the United
States will replace some of the warheads on its submarine-launched Trident
ballistic missiles with “low-yield” versions.
These warheads would have a yield of roughly five kilotons; for comparison, the W76 and W88 warheads currently deployed on submarines have yields of 100 and 455 kilotons, respectively.
Such a low-yield warhead can be produced by modifying an existing two-stage W76 or W88 warhead so that just the first stage explodes, which can be done relatively quickly. These weapons can—and likely will—be deployed during this presidential term.
These warheads would have a yield of roughly five kilotons; for comparison, the W76 and W88 warheads currently deployed on submarines have yields of 100 and 455 kilotons, respectively.
Such a low-yield warhead can be produced by modifying an existing two-stage W76 or W88 warhead so that just the first stage explodes, which can be done relatively quickly. These weapons can—and likely will—be deployed during this presidential term.
As noted above, the United States
already deploys low-yield bombs and air-launched cruise missiles with yield
options that range from 0.3 to 150 kilotons.
But the NPR argues that the new weapon will offer several advantages: it will not require “host nation support,” it will provide additional diversity, and it will be able to penetrate defenses. (p. XII)
These arguments are spurious. The United States can deliver its bombs and air-launched cruise missiles using long-range bombers based in the United States—these require no host nation support.
It is a truism that adding new types of weapons increases diversity, but it is irrelevant. It is also true that a ballistic missile will be able to penetrate defenses (especially since none exist), but this does not give it an advantage over the existing systems.
The B-2 stealth bomber is designed to evade sophisticated air defenses, and the air-launched cruise missile can penetrate air defenses.
But the NPR argues that the new weapon will offer several advantages: it will not require “host nation support,” it will provide additional diversity, and it will be able to penetrate defenses. (p. XII)
These arguments are spurious. The United States can deliver its bombs and air-launched cruise missiles using long-range bombers based in the United States—these require no host nation support.
It is a truism that adding new types of weapons increases diversity, but it is irrelevant. It is also true that a ballistic missile will be able to penetrate defenses (especially since none exist), but this does not give it an advantage over the existing systems.
The B-2 stealth bomber is designed to evade sophisticated air defenses, and the air-launched cruise missile can penetrate air defenses.
But the ultimate rationale the NPR
gives for the low-yield Trident warhead is that it “will help counter any
mistaken perception of an exploitable ‘gap’ in U.S. regional deterrence
capabilities.” (p. 55)
Regardless of what the military thinks US nuclear weapons are deterring other countries from doing, to argue that the current arsenal is inadequate but will become adequate if we throw in a few low-yield Trident warheads is just silly.
Regardless of what the military thinks US nuclear weapons are deterring other countries from doing, to argue that the current arsenal is inadequate but will become adequate if we throw in a few low-yield Trident warheads is just silly.
Undermining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
The NPR describes the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the nuclear
non-proliferation regime. However, the new US policy undercuts the treaty in
several ways:
Ignores NPT obligation to take measures toward nuclear disarmament
While claiming that the United
States “continues to abide by its obligations” under the NPT, the NPR ignores
the US obligation to take effective measures toward nuclear disarmament.
Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has made progress—albeit slow progress—in reducing the number, types, and role of US nuclear weapons.
The new policy reverses that progress. The non-nuclear weapon states are already fed up with the slow progress of the United States and Russia, and in response last year they negotiated a treaty banning nuclear weapons. The Trump NPR is a giant slap in their face.
Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has made progress—albeit slow progress—in reducing the number, types, and role of US nuclear weapons.
The new policy reverses that progress. The non-nuclear weapon states are already fed up with the slow progress of the United States and Russia, and in response last year they negotiated a treaty banning nuclear weapons. The Trump NPR is a giant slap in their face.
Walks back from negative security guarantees.
Negative security guarantees—in
which the nuclear weapon states assure countries without nuclear weapons that
they will not be subject to a nuclear attack—are vital to the NPT.
Such guarantees reduce the incentive for countries to acquire their own nuclear weapons to counter threats from the nuclear weapon states.
They were also key to the 1995 decision by the non-nuclear weapon states to extend the treaty indefinitely.
Such guarantees reduce the incentive for countries to acquire their own nuclear weapons to counter threats from the nuclear weapon states.
They were also key to the 1995 decision by the non-nuclear weapon states to extend the treaty indefinitely.
Current US policy is:
The United States will not use or
threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapons states that are
party to the NPT and in compliance with their nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
The Trump NPR reiterates this policy
but follows it with a disclaimer:
Given the potential of significant
non-nuclear strategic attacks, the United States reserves the right to make any
adjustments in the assurance that may be warranted by the evolution and
proliferation of non-nuclear strategic attack technologies and U.S.
capabilities to counter that threat. (p. 21)
In other words, don’t count on it.
Rejects CTBT Ratification
For 50 years now, the NPT
non-nuclear weapon states have made it clear that they place high importance on
achieving a treaty prohibiting nuclear explosive testing.
The 1968 preamble to the NPT discusses the imperative of negotiating such a treaty, and when the non-nuclear weapons states agreed to indefinitely extend the NPT in 1995, it was predicated on their understanding that the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was near completion.
The CTBT was opened for signature in 1996. The United States has signed, but not ratified the treaty.
Over 20 years later, the treaty has still not entered into force, in part because the United States has not ratified it.
The 1968 preamble to the NPT discusses the imperative of negotiating such a treaty, and when the non-nuclear weapons states agreed to indefinitely extend the NPT in 1995, it was predicated on their understanding that the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was near completion.
The CTBT was opened for signature in 1996. The United States has signed, but not ratified the treaty.
Over 20 years later, the treaty has still not entered into force, in part because the United States has not ratified it.
In another slap in the face of the
non-nuclear weapon states, the NPR explicitly states, “the United States will
not seek ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.” (p. 63)
