Biden should rethink US policy on low-yield nuclear weapons

ABSTRACT

In 2020, the Trump administration deployed a low-yield nuclear weapon aboard US submarines. President-elect Joe Biden should interrogate whether this was sound policy. The process of assessing the usefulness of this warhead could present Biden with an opportunity to rebalance the US portfolio of nonstrategic nuclear weapons and, in turn, alter nuclear competition with Russia and China.

KEYWORDS:

• Joe Biden
• low-yield warhead
• nonstrategic nuclear weapons
• shot doctrine

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

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Dave Zikusoka

David N. Zikusoka is a research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. He previously served in positions at the White House, Department of Defense, and US Cyberspace Solarium Commission.