Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century

Abstract

Abstract : The end of the Cold War and the desire to rid the world of nuclear weapons did not make nuclear deterrence irrelevant. Nuclear weapons continue to play a key role in this nation's strategic deterrence. During the cold war the nuclear triad was the successful nuclear deterrence strategy. Recent changes to the political landscape, to include an increase in the number of nuclear actors, have prompted a change to the tried and true nuclear deterrence Triad. Better national diplomacy is needed in the nuclear deterrence strategy and will need to be sustained with relevant and capable nuclear and new conventional weapons.