Nuclear Strategy, Nonproliferation, and the Causes of Foreign Nuclear Deployments

Matthew Fuhrmann () and Todd S. Sechser
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Matthew Fuhrmann: Department of Political Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Todd S. Sechser: Department of Politics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2014, vol. 58, issue 3, 455-480

Abstract: Why do countries deploy nuclear weapons abroad? Since 1945, more than twenty states have hosted foreign nuclear weapons on their territory, and five countries continue to do so today. These deployments have important consequences for international security, yet there is little systematic research about the factors that drive them. In this article, we develop three broad theoretical frameworks to explain why foreign nuclear deployments occur. Using a new data set of foreign nuclear deployments between 1945 and 2000, we find that two factors weigh heavily in driving these deployments: the protection of allies and the projection of military power. Nonproliferation motives, however, appear to play little role. The results carry important implications for our understanding of the causes of proliferation and the sources of nuclear posture.

Keywords: nuclear proliferation; military deployments; alliances; deterrence; military strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jocore:v:58:y:2014:i:3:p:455-480

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