NATO's Role in Nuclear Deterrence

Jessica Cox will discuss the Alliance's important role in nuclear deterrence. With her experience in both the U.S. Government and at the NATO HQ in Brussels, Ms. Cox will offer thoughts on the importance of NATO's nuclear sharing policy and a collective NATO approach to nuclear deterrence. She will also offer her thoughts on the future of deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Jessica Cox serves as director, Nuclear Policy Directorate at NATO HQ in Brussels, Belgium. She provides policy support to the Secretary General and others at NATO HQ on matters related to NATO nuclear deterrence, including in the Secretary General's role of Chair of the Nuclear Planning Group. The Nuclear Policy Directorate organizes the work of the Nuclear Planning Group, develops and implements NATO nuclear policy, and organizes and leads HQ exercises, policy symposiums, and education and training programs. Ms. Cox chairs the Nuclear Planning Group Staff Group. Prior to her NATO assignment, Ms. Cox was a policy analyst in the U.S. Department of Defense. She recently completed two years detailed to the National Security Council as the Director for Arms Control, where she led the development of U.S. policy on nuclear and conventional arms control treaties as well as issues associated with US-Russia and US-China strategic stability. As such, she was instrumental in developing a new approach to Russia's violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, managing implementation of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and restarting bilateral U.S.-Russia Strategic Stability Talks in September 2017.