NATO’s Deterrence and Defence Posture Review, issued at the May 2012 Chicago Summit, reaffirmed the logic of NATO as a “nuclear alliance” by stating certain key principles of its nuclear policy and posture. This brought back some clarity into a debate that had become increasingly confused. However, the DDPR did not contain a thorough analysis of the strategic environment, nor did it provide an extensive rationale for NATO’s nuclear “acquis”. The new paper by the Research Division seeks to address these two elements in greater detail, thereby offering a complement to – and interpretation of – the DDPR. It concludes that NATO’s future strategic environment will continue to be profoundly influenced by the existence and proliferation of nuclear weapons; that the US’ extended nuclear deterrence commitments remain a crucial element of global stability; and that NATO’s nuclear arrangements remain an important means to share risks and burdens across the Alliance. The paper also contains suggestions for a new nuclear narrative that balances the desire to reduce the role of nuclear weapons with the need to maintain a credible nuclear deterrent.
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