The Wall Street Journal reports that U.S. President Barack Obama is considering a protocol of "No First Use" for nuclear weapons, but the proposal is running into opposition from top Cabinet officials and U.S. allies.
If President Obama declares a "No First Use" policy, it would mean the U.S. would explicitly rule out a first strike with a nuclear weapon in any conflict. The paper says Secretary of State John Kerry raised concerns from allies that rely on the U.S. for defense at a National Security Council meeting in July. It says the allies include Japan, South Korea and Britain.
It reports that Secretary of Defense Ash Carter also said a "No First Use" declaration would risk making allies feel insecure about the U.S. deterrent and some of those allies could pursue their own nuclear programs.
The paper says Obama didn't make a decision about the policy at the meeting. But it quotes people familiar with the discussions as saying opposition from the critical Cabinet members and U.S. allies reduces the likelihood of the change.
◆Journal 日刊新聞
◆protocol 公的な規則、ルール集
◆No First Use （核兵器の）先制不使用
◆run into opposition 反対にあう、反対意見に直面する
◆explicitly 曖昧でなく明示的に、明確に
◆rule out 除外する、まったく認めない
◆Secretary of State （アメリカの）国務長官
◆National Security Council （アメリカの）国家安全保障会議
◆Secretary of Defense （アメリカの）国防長官
◆insecure 安全ではない、不安な
◆deterrent （戦争）抑止力
◆likelihood 可能性
