Biden Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review: Analysis and Assessment

ABSTRACT

The Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) by the Biden Administration was published in October 2022. What is its focus and how should we evaluate it? How is it different from previous administrations? Does the NPR reflect Biden’s proactive statements before its publication? This article introduces and examines pressing issues of the international security environment and threat perceptions, nuclear deterrence, declaratory policy, arms control, and nuclear capability as reflected in the NPR. Analysis is presented from two aspects, military and diplomacy, as the NPR emphasizes to “put diplomacy first”. The military aspects of the NPR, to strengthen and modernize nuclear deterrence as the main role of nuclear weapons, is strongly emphasized. On the other hand, diplomatic aspects of the NPR are narrowly and superficially treated, and it does not include proactive proposals. Future NPRs should include military and diplomatic positions more equally.

KEYWORDS:

• Nuclear Posture Review
• President biden
• nuclear weapons
• deterrence
• arms control
• declaratory policy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ On February 21, 2023 Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual address that “Moscow is halting its participation in the New START deal” with the United States. He stressed that Russia was not leaving the accord, but just halting its participation. Russia will continue to abide by the limits set by the treaty.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mitsuru Kurosawa

Mitsuru Kurosawa is a professor emeritus at Osaka University and Osaka Jogakuin University. He was the founding president of the Japan Association of Disarmament Studies (JADS) from 2009 to 2013 and an advisor to the Japanese Delegation to the NPT Review Conference in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015.