The Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N): Implication for U.S. nuclear strategy and arms control
Abstract
In May 2021, soon after taking office, the Biden administration confirmed the decision to fund the NucleaSea-launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N), one of the most controversial programs of Donald Trump’s term. The decision was received with surprise by some analysts: Joseph Biden had argued against this new weapon during his campaign. Finally, after considerable discussion within the government and the armed forces, the Democratic administration appears to have reconsidered its decision and canceled the SLCM-N program.
In anticipation of the NPR 2022, which is expected to be unveiled in the near future, the cancellation of SLCM-N can be interpreted as an indication of the Biden administration’s approach to nuclear strategy. A couple of central questions remain. What are the implications of this decision for U.S. nuclear strategy? Which American institutions are involved in this strategic debate? Beyond the United States itself, what international tendencies will these decisions promote in terms of arms control and nuclear risk reduction?
About the Author
Research fellow at the Institute for Strategic and Defense Studies (IESD) for studies on nuclear arms control and ballistic non-proliferation. Former Research assistant at the Brazilian Center for Strategy and International Relations (NERINT). He holds a Master's degree in International Security and Defense from the University Jean Moulin (Lyon, France) and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, Brazil).
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