Precarious Peace: Nuclear Deterrence and Defence Doctrines of Nuclear-Weapon States in the Post-Cold War Era

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the deterrence and defence policies of the nuclear-weapon States under the NPT—the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France. It begins by reviewing the concept of deterrence, followed by an examination of each nuclear-weapon State’s present stance on nuclear deterrence within its respective military doctrine. It subsequently looks at the requirements under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) moving to explore concerns regarding disarmament matters, noting the continued reliance on deterrence as a central feature of military protection and defence doctrine. Instead of deterrence becoming an out-dated concept that should have expired with the Cold War, it remains the status quo, despite requirements to the contrary under Article VI of the NPT.