The Nuclear Weapons Program of the United States and its Strategic Value in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

The United States’ nuclear stockpile has been a contentious issue with regards to its size and active deployment since the end of the Cold War. However, nuclear deterrence is still necessary and a crucial factor in safeguarding the security of the United States from foreign threats and preventing nuclear proliferation in other states. The extension of the United States’ nuclear umbrella to its allies also strengthens their allegiance and discourages rivals from committing acts of aggression. Aside from nuclear weapons deployment, the United States should modernize its nuclear stockpile and upgrade its delivery systems and retrofit them with new advanced technology–improving reliability and accuracy. These measures should be taken to fulfil national security priorities of the United States and its allies in the twenty-first century.