US nuclear 'fail-safe' thinking may interest Russia

Significance

Russia has cancelled talks on reviving mutual inspections under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). As treaty negotiations stall, President Joe Biden's administration has begun a congressionally mandated review of 'fail-safe' steps to prevent accidental nuclear use.

Impacts

• Whenever Moscow hints at nuclear arms use, Washington will warn it of catastrophic consequences.
• Biden may take executive action to place guardrails around US presidents' sole authority to order a nuclear strike.
• Progress on the review will require top-down leadership from the president and National Security Council.