A year ago Barack Obama announced his aim of moving toward “a world without nuclear weapons”. A new policy on nuclear arms has now begun to emerge. So far, it is not a radical change from the stance of the previous administration. In some ways it confirms a shift of emphasis already begun. But it is neither a non-event, nor, as some critics allege, a reckless weakening of US security.
Last week's nuclear posture review – a statement of the risks the US believes it faces, and its intended response – says that threats from nuclear-armed states such as Russia and China have receded. In future, it argues, the greater threat is rogue states and nuclear-armed terrorists.
Ahead of this week's Washington summit on securing nuclear materials, the review puts non-proliferation to the fore – and rightly so. It also sets the agreement just signed with Russia on the reduction of nuclear stockpiles into a wider strategic context.
