No- First Use Policy: Implications for Nuclear Politics and Strategy

Abstract

This paper analyses the debates on the ‘No-First Use’ (NFU) policy enunciated under India’s nuclear doctrine in the wake of recent statement of Indian defence minister who argued that the doctrine is not writ in stone and therefore can be changed depending on the circumstances. This paper presents the viewpoints of both the moderates- who have argued in favour of adequacy of the doctrine and the NFU principle and the expansionists- who have argued that the NFU needs revision to accord more flexibility under the nuclear doctrine. This paper reiterates that the doctrine has served the Indian strategic interests well and does not need to be revised. It also situates this debate in the domestic politics context and assesses rationale behind it. The paper further argues that a revision of NFU is not only unnecessary but may even be counter-productive to India’s political and strategic interests.