Key Facts About the Nuclear Posture Review

Apr 6, 2010

Key Facts About the Nuclear Posture Review

White House, April 6, 2010

The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR):

• Outlines the Administration’s strategy for implementing the
President’s Prague agenda for reducing nuclear dangers and pursuing the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons, including concrete steps we can and should take now.

• Explains how the United States will sustain a safe, secure and
effective nuclear deterrent for us and our allies as long as nuclear
weapons exist.


Its findings and recommendations support five key objectives:

#1: Preventing nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism:

For the first time, the NPR places preventing nuclear proliferation and
nuclear terrorism atop the U.S. nuclear agenda.

#2: Reducing the role of nuclear weapons:

United States declaratory policy has been updated to bring it into
alignment with 21st century needs by reducing the role of nuclear weapons
in our national security strategy, and isolating those nations that are
not in compliance with their Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and
nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

#3: Maintaining strategic deterrence and stability at reduced nuclear
force levels:

The NPR Report reflects the Administration’s commitment to renew arms
control and work with Russia to reduce our nuclear forces while
maintaining strategic stability. The NPR provided inputs to the
instructions to U.S. negotiators and the resulting New START agreement
helps to significantly advance this third objective:

#4: Strengthening regional deterrence and reassurance of U.S. allies and
partners:

The NPR reflects the Administration’s commitment to strengthening
deterrence against 21st century threats to the United States, our allies,
and partners.

#5: Sustaining a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal:

The United States will modernize the nuclear weapons infrastructure,
sustain the science, technology, and engineering base, invest in human
capital, and ensure senior leadership focus. The significantly increased
investments called for in the NPR will not only guarantee our stockpile,
but facilitate further nuclear reductions, and help enhance our ability to
stem nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism. It will also extend the
life of warheads currently in the nuclear arsenal. This is an alternative
to developing new nuclear weapons, which we reject."