US revamps its policy on the use of nuclear weapons

Beginning of a hectic week for US President Barack Obama's nuclear agenda, the United States on Tuesday rolled out a strategy review that renounced US development of new atomic weapons and could herald further cuts in America's stockpile.We are enforcing our commitment to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) by stating clearly for the first time that the United States will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states that are party to the NPT and in compliance of their non-proliferation obligations, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at a news conference at the Pentagon. The announcement, calling for reduced US reliance on its nuclear deterrent, could build momentum before Obama signs a landmark arms control treaty with Russia in Prague on Thursday and hosts a nuclear security summit in Washington next week. This NPR determined that the United States will not develop new nuclear warheads. Programs to extend the life of warheads will only use nuclear components based on previously tested designs and will not support new military missions or provide for new military capability, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said. But Obama's revamped strategy is likely to draw criticism from conservatives who say his approach could compromise US national security and disappoint liberals who wanted the president to go further on arms control. Under the revamped policy, the United States for the first time is forswearing use of atomic weapons against non-nuclear countries, a break with a Bush-era threat of nuclear retaliation in the event of a biological or chemical attack. The administration also pledged to pursue further arms control with Russia beyond the New START pact Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will sign this week promising to slash nuclear arsenals by a third.