The aim is to analyze the views of the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama regarding deterrence, the reduction of nuclear weapons and missile defense. It is argued that both administrations reaffirmed the fundamental role of nuclear weapons for deterrence, committed themselves to reducing nuclear weapons with initiatives for modernization and recognized the importance of missile defense to protect the US and its allies. Such views are related to the ongoing need to expand the flexibility to deal with contemporary threats and maintain diverse options for addressing these challenges.
nuclear weapons; missile defense; deterrence; US