2023.4.24
Ideas and Analyses
Two Nuclear Peer Problem: Implications for U.S. Nuclear Deterrence Strategy
On April 18, 2023, the Japan-U.S. Program invited two distinguished experts from Japan and the U.S. to hold a discussion, "Two Nuclear Peer Problem: Implications for U.S. Nuclear Deterrence Strategy." From the United States, we welcomed Dr. Brad Roberts, director of the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy during the Obama administration. We also welcomed Mr. Sugio Takahashi from the National Institute for Defense Studies. As member of a study group, Dr. Roberts and Mr. Takahashi were involoved in the publication of a report entitled "China's Emergence as a Second Nuclear Peer: Implications for U.S. Nuclear Deterrence Strategy". Based on this report, they dive into a deep and insightful discussion on a wide range of issues surrounding the nuclear weapons, including extended deterrence, hedging, counter force capability, arms controle, and command planning of Japan-US Alliance. The video of the discussion can be viewed below.
Video
| Recorded on | Tuesday, April 18, 2023 (JST) |
|---|---|
| Discussants | Dr. Brad Roberts and Mr. Sugio Takahashi |
*Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this discussion are those of the speakers and do not represent the views of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the institutions to which the participants belong.
Brad Roberts
Dr. Brad Roberts is director of the Center for Global Security Research at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His research areas include security and nuclear strategy. Previously, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy (2009-2013). In this role, he served as Policy Director of the Obama administration’s Nuclear Posture Review and Ballistic Missile Defense Review and had lead responsibility for their implementation. Dr. Roberts has a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Stanford University, a MA. from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a PhD in international relations from Erasmus University.
Recent publication includes:
The Case for U.S. Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2015); Stockpile stewardship in an era of renewed competition, Center for Global Security Research Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, April 2022 (Editor); "Rethinking Mutual Vulnerability in an era of US-China Strategic Competition," in David Santoro, eds., US-China Mutual Vulnerability Perspectives on the Debate, Pacific Forum, Issues & Insights, Vol. 22, SR 2, May 2022.
Sugio Takahashi
Sugio Takahashi is head of the Defense Policy Division of the Policy Studies Department at Japan’s National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS). His research areas include military strategy and the Japan-U.S. Alliance. Previously, he was a Director of Policy Simulation Office, NIDS from 2016 to 2020 and Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Planning of Ministry of Defense from 2008 to 2016. Sugio received a MA and BA from the Waseda University and a MA from George Washington University.
Recent publication includes:
"Strategic Stability and the Impact of China's Modernizing Strategic Strike Forces," in James M. Smith and Paul J. Bolt, eds., China's Strategic Arsenal: Worldview, Doctrine, and Systems (Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2021); "Pitfalls in Deterring a Taiwan Strait Conflict: 'Unpreparable War'," National Institute for Public Policy, Issue No.516, March 1, 2022.
