The Future of Alliances and Extended Nuclear Deterrence

A survey of the world today finds the nuclear landscape – from Russia, to North Korea, to India, Pakistan, and China – to be more uncertain and precarious than it has been any time since the end of the Cold War. Yet, even as nuclear dangers seem to be growing, there seems to be deepening discontent with the notion of nuclear deterrence. A growing chorus of voices questions the legitimacy of assurance and deterrence, fracturing what might have been thought at one point to be a consensus between allies. There also seems to be a growing skepticism about the benefits of the internationalist system on which deterrence, and especially extended deterrence, depends. We invite you to join us for a discussion on these issues facing the Trump administration.

Agenda

3:30 pm – Introduction

3:45 pm – Panel 1: Nuclear Deterrence and the NATO Alliance: Risks of Conflict and Prospects for Cooperation

​Rebecca Hersman, Panel Chair
Director, Project on Nuclear Issues, and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Kathleen H. Hicks
Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Iain King CBE
Counsellor, Defence Policy and Nuclear, British Embassy

Frank Miller
Principal, The Scowcroft Group

Alexander Vershbow
Distinguished Fellow, Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security, Atlantic Council 

4:50 pm – Panel 2: Nuclear Deterrence and the Asia-Pacific Alliances: Sustaining the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella in the face of rising challenges

Elaine Bunn, Panel Chair
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, U.S. Department of Defense

Tetsuo Kotani
Senior Research Fellow, The Japan Institute of International Affairs

Michael Schiffer
Senior Advisor and Counselor, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Andrew Shearer
Senior Adviser on Asia Pacific Security, Center for Strategic and International Studies

6:00 pm – Reception

CSIS Experts

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Rebecca Hersman

Director, Project on Nuclear Issues, and Senior Adviser, International Security Program

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Kathleen H. Hicks

Senior Advisor