U.S. strategic forces under a start agreement

Abstract

Abstract The emerging START agreement will require reductions in U.S. strategic nuclear forces and will limit our future modernization options. Yet START may be finalized before we have reached a consensus on the forces and capabilities needed to ensure our national security in a START‐constrained environment. While acknowledging that START will not relieve the U.S. of the need to modernize, the DoD has not proposed how our strategic forces will be structured under the START limitations. The START limits will inevitably prove more controversial during Senate ratification if not accompanied by consensus on strategic modernization. We have an opportunity during the “strategic review” to build a consensus for both START and the modernization it will require. Toward this goal, an analytical framework is necessary for assessing strategic force options under a START agreement.