Event Description: The United States has been preoccupied with weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats and ‘nuclear’ counterproliferation options since the end of the Cold War. This trend has accelerated under the Bush administration and its proposals to implement important modifications to American nuclear weapon policy. These nuclear revisions have the potential to augment an already impressive counterforce capability that will feature critical qualitative improvements as part of ongoing strategic force modernization programmes.

The ongoing ‘transformation’ of the American nuclear arsenal will likely continue irrespective of the outcome in the 2008 presidential elections, with important and potentially unforeseen strategic consequences. The US could obtain a strengthened ability to unilaterally deal with WMD proliferation, while these nuclear revisions could facilitate the American use of threats and other forms of coercion during any crisis with a near-peer competitor.

These potential developments cannot be divorced from Canada’s support for the embattled non-proliferation regime or its preference for regional and strategic stability. Canada remains a close American ally and a global actor in its own right, and it is imperative that policy-makers in Ottawa examine the salient and strategically far-reaching issues surrounding US nuclear strategy.

The working group on nuclear strategy of the Canadian International Council (CIC) Halifax Branch is organizing this workshop to bring together a group of prominent strategic thinkers and arms control experts to discuss recent American nuclear weapon developments. We are targeting experts in order to stimulate sophisticated dialogue on these issues, and as such, we have not sought a wide audience for this event. But this workshop is open to a selected number of observers.

Agenda

The Branch Working Group is delighted that 18 strategic analysts and arms control experts will share with us their insight on American nuclear weapon developments. Six panels of experts will lead us in a discussion on different facets of US nuclear strategy, including: Counterproliferation; Missile Defence; US Grand Strategy; Canada-US Relations; NATO Alliance; and Strategic Stability.

The workshop will begin with an evening reception for participants at the Lord Nelson Hotel. The second and third day will feature panel discussions at the Boardroom (Arts and Administration Building), University of King’s College. Refreshments (coffee, tea, juice, some breakfast items) and a light lunch will be available at both the Friday and Saturday sessions.

Observers

As noted earlier, this is a semi-closed ‘workshop’ designed to spark a candid discussion amongst strategic studies and arms control experts. We do have room for a limited number of selected observers to sit-in on these discussions, and observers are certainly welcome to personally interact with and ask questions to participants during breaks. But as an expert workshop, panel sessions will primarily revolve around official participant discussions.

We have not sought a wide audience and space is limited. For further information on observer registration, please contact David McDonough – Email dsmcdonough@hotmail.com.

Partners

Centre for Foreign Policy Studies, Dalhousie University

Centre for Defence and Security Studies, University of Manitoba

Dr. Tom Traves, President, Dalhousie University

Security and Defence Forum, Department of National Defence