Rethinking U.S. Arms Control and Nonproliferation Strategies

Rising concerns about global dangers from nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction nowadays combine with rising doubts about the effectiveness of long-term efforts to reduce such dangers. In this environment, how can U.S. arms control and nonproliferation strategies best play a leadership role? Bilateral U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control stands at a cross roads. An expansion to include other countries such as China is complex and requires careful preparation. The future of the nonproliferation regime is hotly contested. Chemical attacks in the Middle East and even on NATO territory challenge the global ban on chemical weapons. Agreements to reduce military tensions in Europe and elsewhere are violated or even abandoned. Taking a longer term view, some refocus of U.S. policy is required. We must revitalize our approach to both near-term negotiations and the longer-term opportunities and risks that new technologies bring. Revitalization requires new approaches to engaging with U.S. allies in both Europe and Asia. They have equities and capabilities that can strengthen U.S. policy in this arena.

Rose Gottemoeller is the Frank E. and Arthur W. Payne Distinguished Lecturer at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, and a senior fellow at CGSR. She served as deputy secretary general of NATO from 2016 to 2019, where she helped to drive forward NATO's adaptation to new security challenges in Europe and in the fight against terrorism. Prior to NATO, Ms. Gottemoeller served for nearly five years as the under secretary for arms control and international security at the U.S. Department of State, advising the secretary of state on arms control, nonproliferation and political-military affairs. While assistant secretary of state for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance in 2009 and 2010, she was the chief U.S. negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the Russian Federation. Prior to her government service, she was a senior associate with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, with joint appointments to the Nonproliferation and Russia programs. She served as the Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center from 2006 to 2008.