Biden's proposal for a US "sole purpose" nuclear declaratory policy: consequences for allies in Asia, NATO and Germany

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. (author's abstract)

Object Details

• Alternative title: Bidens Idee einer "sole purpose"-Nukleardoktrin für die USA: Folgen für Verbündete in Asien, die NATO und Deutschland
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource, 8 S.
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; begutachtet

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: SWP Comment ; Bd. 62/2021

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Politik

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (who): SSOAR, GESIS – Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften e.V.
• (when): 2021
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Berlin
• (who): Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik -SWP- Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit
• (when): 2021
• Creator: Horovitz, Liviu ; Major, Claudia ; Schneider, Jonas ; Wachs, Lydia
• Contributor: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik -SWP- Deutsches Institut für Internationale Politik und Sicherheit

Further information

• DOI: 10.18449/2021C62
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-78029-8
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 25.03.2025, 1:53 PM CET