The dissertation is devoted to the identification of the characteristics of the nuclear policy of the United States in the XXIst century, taking into consideration the emergence of new challenges and threats, as well as changes in the strategic environment in the context of the return of geopolitical confrontation, and strategic competition between nuclear states as well as the rapid spread of missile technologies. The study describes the factors that determined the evolution of the
US nuclear policy; the main stages, priorities and directions of policy
implementation by various administrations of the US presidents in the XXIst century are highlighted. Common and distinctive features of the US presidential administrations’ approaches towards the issues of arms control, strategic defense and nuclear non-proliferation are identified as well as the role of Russian and Chinese factors in the formation and implementation of the US nuclear policy in the XXIst century is analyzed.
The dissertation research substantiates the thesis that the nuclear policy of the United States in the XXIst century, which covers the issues of arms control, deterrence and non-proliferation, is formed in the frames of both the traditional approach when the official Washington remains the guarantor of security for allies and partners in various regions, and current threats to international security. The peculiarities of the development of the international relations system in the new millennium brought back to the agenda the question of strengthening the role of nuclear weapons in the politics of states, which led to a crisis and the decline of traditional mechanisms for supporting the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence, arms
control, and countering the proliferation of WMD. Collectively, these facts change the global nuclear order and require the development and implementation of a nuclear policy concerning the dynamism and turbulence of the modern system of international security and strategic stability, protecting the interests and security of the United States, its allies and partners in Europe and Asia, as well as provide adequate and effective countermeasures for current and projected challenges and
threats to the non-proliferation and arms control regime at the regional and global levels. Consideration of the specifics of the US nuclear policy in the XXIst century made it possible to conclude that this policy is characterized by consistency and continuity from the administrations of one president to another in key issues, preserving common features that prove the traditionality of Washington policy on strategic issues. At the same time, the paper outcomes proved that the implementation of separate, different from the previous, elements of the nuclear policy by the administrations of the US presidents should be considered a response to the variables and specific trends of the strategic environment and the state of the system of international relations and security at the global and regional levels. A distinctive feature of the US presidential administrations’ approaches towards strategic weapons and defense, as well as nuclear non-proliferation, is the preservation of the role of nuclear weapons and deterrence as the basis of the United States policy being at the same time an instrument of guaranteeing the security of allies and partners, which is simultaneously accompanied by active diplomatic efforts to support strategic stability, arms control and nuclear non-proliferation regimes. The study of the factors of Russia and the People's Republic of China's impact on the US nuclear policy in the XXIst century showed that they are a catalyst for the destabilization of the strategic environment and the decline of traditional regimes in the nuclear sphere. Moreover, Moscow and Beijing non-constructive position regarding international cooperation to counter the challenges and threats of missile and nuclear technologies’ proliferation further strengthens the negative trends in the sphere of strategic stability and disarmament.
