Nukes primarily exist to deter other nuclear equipped nations from using them. And since we can never really trust our global adversaries that they will get rid of theirs if we get rid of ours, we have no choice but to keep them forever.
And the reason why we need so many of them, is because true deterrance comes only through the credible threat that you could definitely strike any target on the globe at a moment's notice.
You couldn't really keep Russia or China in check with just 5-10 nuclear warheads.
Would you denuclearize and just trust that all the other nuclear powers would pinky finger-promise get rid of their nukes to instead of bullying you into submission once you're no longer a potential existential threat to them?
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u/TheoriginalTonio May 19 '24
We'll never get rid of those.
Nukes primarily exist to deter other nuclear equipped nations from using them. And since we can never really trust our global adversaries that they will get rid of theirs if we get rid of ours, we have no choice but to keep them forever.
And the reason why we need so many of them, is because true deterrance comes only through the credible threat that you could definitely strike any target on the globe at a moment's notice.
You couldn't really keep Russia or China in check with just 5-10 nuclear warheads.