Sec. 1671. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NUCLEAR DETERRENCE

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## SEC. 1671 SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NUCLEAR DETERRENCE It is the sense of Congress that— ####

(1)the nuclear forces of the United States continue to play a fundamental role in deterring aggression against the interests of the United States and the allies of the United States in an increasingly dangerous world in which foreign adversaries, including the Russian Federation, are making explicit nuclear threats against the United States and such allies; ####

(2)strong United States nuclear forces assure the allies of the United States that the extended deterrence guarantees of the United States are credible and that the resolve of the United States remains strong even in the face of nuclear provocations, including nuclear coercion and blackmail; ####

(3)the prevention of war through effective deterrence requires survivable and flexible nuclear forces that are well exercised and ready to respond to nuclear escalation if necessary; ####

(4)possessing a range of capabilities and options to counter nuclear threats assures the allies of the United States and enhances the credibility of United States nuclear deterrence by reinforcing the resolve of the United States in the minds of such allies and potential adversaries; ####

(5)the declared policy of the United States with respect to the use of nuclear weapons must be coordinated and communicate clearly that the use of nuclear weapons against the United States or its vital interests would ultimately fail and subject the aggressor to incalculable consequences; ####

(6)in support of a strong and credible nuclear deterrent, the United States must— #####

(A)maintain a nuclear force with a diverse, flexible range of nuclear yield and delivery modes that are ready, capable, and credible; #####

(B)afford the highest priority to the modernization of the nuclear triad, dual-capable aircraft, and related command and control elements; and #####

(C)ensure the broadest participation of allies of the United States in nuclear defense planning, training, and exercises to demonstrate the commitment of the United States and such allies and their solidarity against nuclear threats and coercion; and ####

(7)with respect to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)— #####

(A)NATO has made it clear at the NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland, in July 2018, that— ######

(i)“the fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression”; and ######

(ii)“Nuclear weapons are unique. Any employment of nuclear weapons against NATO would fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict. The circumstances in which NATO might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote. If the fundamental security of any of its members were to be threatened however, NATO has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would be unacceptable and far outweigh the benefits that an adversary could hope to achieve.”; and #####

(B)accordingly, effective deterrence requires that NATO conduct realistic nuclear planning and exercises, and modernize the full suite of dual-capable aircraft and associated command and control networks and facilities.