WASHINGTON — Perhaps never in history have nuclear security, nonproliferation and arms control received the prominence that they are provided by this month's strategic trifecta: the April 6 release of the latest United States Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), the April 8 signing in Prague of the New START Treaty and the April 12-13 Nuclear Security Summit. These events will flow into May's Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.
U.S. President Barack Obama has become one of the most prominent global advocates of abolishing nuclear weapons, a position for which he unexpectedly received a Nobel Peace Prize last year. But Obama's actions have been considerably more restrained than is often assumed.
In general, Obama has pursued a policy of nuclear balance in which steps toward disarmament are accompanied by measures to retain America's nuclear primacy. The former underscore his administration's commitment to meeting its obligations under the NPT, while the latter reassure the U.S. Congress and allies skeptical of bold new approaches.
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