Deterring Limited Nuclear War in the 21st Century: The Challenge for the United States
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
After decades of nuclear competition, the United States and Soviet Union were able to come together in 1986 around the proposition that nuclear wars cannot be won and thus must not be fought. Decades after the Cold War, policymakers and experts in the United States continue to hold this view. But in the capitals of potential adversary countries, a different proposition appears to be taking hold: that nuclear wars can be won because they can be kept limited, and thus can be fought—even against the United States. The evidence in support of this proposition is the investment that Russia, China, and North Korea have made in developing the operational concepts, military doctrine, and nuclear capabilities for waging nuclear war at the regional level of war, while also keeping their nuclear powder dry (to paraphrase President Putin) at the strategic level to deter escalation there.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- OSTI ID:
- 1635786
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-TR--753807; 938351
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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