Smart Steps on Nuclear Weapons for the Biden Administration

The Council on Strategic Risks recommends that the Biden administration prioritize reducing nuclear risks by eliminating low-yield capabilities and systems that blur the line between conventional and nuclear warfare. Key proposals include extending the New START treaty, issuing a national security directive establishing that U.S. nuclear forces exist solely for deterrence or responding to nuclear attacks, and exploring new treaties to eliminate nuclear-armed cruise missiles and prevent the proliferation of nuclear-armed hypersonic missiles and drones.

• The administration should prioritize the reduction or elimination of 'low-yield' capabilities and systems that create uncertainty regarding whether assets are conventional or nuclear to lower the risk of miscalculation and nuclear war.
• The U.S. should issue a national security directive for an updated Nuclear Posture Review stating that the sole purpose of U.S. nuclear forces is for deterrence or responding to nuclear attacks, specifically targeting the alteration of plans for long-range standoff nuclear air-launched cruise missiles and resurrected nuclear submarine-launched cruise missiles.
• The document proposes several arms control options to address strategic instability, including a new nuclear-only Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, an agreement to eliminate nuclear-armed cruise missiles, and measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear drones and nuclear-armed hypersonic missiles.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (2020). Smart Steps on Nuclear Weapons for the Biden Administration. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/12/smart-steps-on-nuclear-weapons-for-the-biden-administration/

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. Smart Steps on Nuclear Weapons for the Biden Administration. 2020. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/12/smart-steps-on-nuclear-weapons-for-the-biden-administration/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=Smart Steps on Nuclear Weapons for the Biden Administration |date=12 November 2020 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/12/smart-steps-on-nuclear-weapons-for-the-biden-administration/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{thecouncilonstrategicrisks2020smart, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{Smart Steps on Nuclear Weapons for the Biden Administration}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/11/12/smart-steps-on-nuclear-weapons-for-the-biden-administration/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }