What is the doctrine of no first use of nuclear weapons?

In global nuclear ethics and deterrence theory, NFU (No First Use) refers to a type of pledge or policy whereby a nuclear power formally refrains from using nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in war. is

Most nuclear-weapon states maintain policies that allow their first use in conflict. Commitments to use these weapons only in response to a nuclear strike — or a policy of no first use — are rare. Where these commitments are made by nuclear states, their opponents generally do not find them credible.

Countries that have pledged not to use nuclear weapons

China

China is the first nuclear-weapon state to adopt the NFU policy, when it first acquired nuclear capabilities in 1964, and as of 2018 became the only state to “unconditionally uphold the NFU pledge.”

In other words, it can be said that it has “committed not to use nuclear weapons at any time or under any circumstances and not to threaten to use nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear-weapon-free state.” At any time or under any circumstances during the Cold War, China decided to keep its nuclear arsenal small rather than compete in an international nuclear arms race with the United States and the Soviet Union.

China has repeatedly endorsed the NFU policy in recent years.In its statement during the 2023 UN Security Council meeting, China rejected any attack against nuclear weapons facilities and power plants, the Non-Proliferation Treaty. reiterated its position and support for the non-first use of nuclear weapons.

India

India first adopted the NFU policy in 1998 after its second nuclear test, Pokhran-II. In August 1999, the Indian government issued a draft doctrine stating that nuclear weapons are for deterrence only. India will continue to pursue a policy of “retaliation only”. The document also states that India “will not be the first to launch a nuclear strike, but will retaliate if deterrence fails” and that the decision to authorize the use of nuclear weapons rests with the prime minister or the elected government. will be done through

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh speaking on the occasion of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 16 August 2019 said that India’s NFU policy is subject to change depending on “circumstances”.. The Vajpayee government conducted the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998.

Countries against NFU policy

Pakistan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France say they will use nuclear weapons against nuclear or non-nuclear states only if their territory is attacked, against them, or against their allies.

Soviet Union/Russia

In its final years, the Soviet Union formally adopted the NFU policy in 1982 when Foreign Minister Andrey Gromyko read out a pledge to the United Nations from Secretary-General Leonid Brezhnev of a preemptive nuclear strike. However, this pledge was not taken seriously, and later leaked Soviet Armed Forces documents confirmed that the military already had a plan for a nuclear strike and launched it during the Able Archer 83 crisis. Was even considering doing it.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation formally reversed this policy in 1993 due to the weakness of the Russian armed forces in the post-Soviet era. Russia defines its entire military doctrine as defensive military doctrine. Specifically with regard to nuclear weapons, it reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the following cases:

1. In response to the use of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction against it or its allies.

2. When the existence of the state is threatened by the use of conventional weapons.

Britain and North Korea

In March 2002, British Secretary of State for Defense Geoff Hone said that the UK was prepared to use nuclear weapons against “rogue states” if they ever used “weapons of mass destruction” against British armed forces. use

In April 2017, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed that the UK would use nuclear weapons in “extreme circumstances”.

North Korea’s stated policy position is that nuclear weapons will “never be misused or used in the context of a preemptive strike”, but if “military force is used against us”. North Korea can use its “most powerful offensive force.

Israel

Although Israel does not officially confirm or deny nuclear weapons, it is believed that Israel has nuclear weapons.

According to Israeli historian Avner Cohen, Israel’s nuclear weapons policy, formulated in 1966, revolves around four “red lines” that could lead to an Israeli nuclear response:

1. Military operations in populated areas within Israel’s borders.
2. Destruction of the Israeli Air Force.
3. In the event that Israeli cities are targeted by aerial bombardment, chemical attacks, or biological attacks.
4. In case of use of nuclear weapons against Israel.

America

Not only did the US and NATO refuse to adopt the NFU policy, but until 1967 they maintained the nuclear doctrine of “massive retaliation” in which nuclear weapons were expressly intended to defend against a conventional attack by North America or Western Europe. will be used for

Although this strategy was revised, the right to first use nuclear weapons was still reserved. During the 2020 US presidential election, Joe Biden announced that the US would not use nuclear weapons unilaterally. .

Pakistan

Pakistan’s former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmed warned that if Pakistan was ever attacked, it would use “any weapon in its nuclear arsenal” to defend itself.

Pakistan refuses to adopt the NFU policy and indicates that it will launch nuclear weapons even if another state does not use such weapons first. Pakistan’s disproportionate nuclear force has a significant impact on India’s retaliatory capability. “Pakistan’s threat of a nuclear first use has forced India to seriously consider conventional military strikes,” a military spokesman said.

Sartaj Aziz, Pakistan’s former national security adviser, previously defended the nuclear use policy. Sartaj Aziz explained that Pakistan’s NFU policy proved effective after the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001 and argued that if Pakistan had accepted the NFU policy, there would have been a major war between the two countries.