The First and no First Use Options of Nuclear Weapons: The Policy of The United States of America

The US as the sole remaining superpower today is unlikely to face a nuclear threat from any other country. Hence, as a republic committed to promoting democracy globally, it must embrace the no first use option as its policy on nuclear weapons so that more nations may be motivated to adopt it. no first use is a far more democratic doctrine than the option of first use and could also be the first step towards global nuclear disarmament. However, in spite of recommendations to that effect from many of its own experts and statesmen, the US government, alleging threats posed by “rogue” states and even potentially by Russia and China has so far resisted moving in that direction.