--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically [United States and France] said…" description: "\"Basically [United States and France] said \"We will use nuclear weapons whenever it suits our purposes to do so.\" So this expansion of doctrines regardi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/john-burroughs-1157_contributing_basically-united-states-and-france-said_249049.png" --- # Basically \[United States and France\] said "We will use… ![“Basically [United States and France] said "We will use nuclear weapons whenever it suits our purposes to do so." So this expansion of doctrines regarding possible use of nuclear weapons makes them more, you know, sort of, salient and important and so it's increasing the perceived political value…” quote by John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/john-burroughs-1157_contributing_basically-united-states-and-france-said_249049.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/john-burroughs-1157_contributing_basically-united-states-and-france-said_249049.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18a/john-burroughs-1157_contributing_basically-united-states-and-france-said_249049.png) > “Basically \[United States and France\] said "We will use nuclear weapons whenever it suits our purposes to do so." So this expansion of doctrines regarding possible use of nuclear weapons makes them more, you know, sort of, salient and important and so it's increasing the perceived political value of nuclear weapons and therefore causing or contributing to possible proliferation.” [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement suggests that openly stating willingness to use nuclear weapons for any purpose makes them seem more valuable politically, which can encourage other states to seek them. **In simple terms:** Openly threatening to use nukes raises their political value and may spur proliferation. Key Takeaway Avoid using nuclear threats as policy tools. Themes nuclear deterrence political strategy proliferation security policy power dynamics cold war strategic communication international relations risk assessment global stability arms control deterrence theory geopolitics military doctrine state behavior strategic stability escalation nuclear ethics global security Mood cautious analytical concerned Type policy strategic analytical When to use this quote - government policy statements - military doctrine - international negotiations - defense briefings - strategic planning - diplomatic discussions - public speeches - policy analysis - security council meetings - strategic assessments - defense white papers - military conferences - diplomatic cables - policy debates - strategic reviews - government hearings - defense strategy sessions - international security forums - strategic think‑tank reports - policy formulation workshops Key Concepts nuclear doctrine deterrence theory political signaling strategic stability proliferation dynamics risk perception power politics security dilemma international law strategic communication military ethics global governance conflict escalation strategic calculus statecraft geopolitical strategy defense policy strategic deterrence global stability nuclear ethics strategic risk Questions to Reflect On - How does public nuclear signaling affect other nations' security calculations? - What alternatives exist to reduce the perceived value of nuclear weapons? A Different Perspective The claim may oversimplify complex deterrence dynamics and ignore other factors influencing proliferation, such as regional conflicts or security guarantees. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contributing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contributing/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Expansion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expansion/) [Expansion Doctrines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expansion-doctrines-2480892/) [France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/france/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Possible Proliferation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-proliferation-644745/) [Proliferation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proliferation/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Suits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suits/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Weapons Causing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons-causing-2480891/) ## Related quotes > [Nuclear power as a solution to global warming is theoretically possible, but the proliferation problems and accident risks it would create would, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-makhijani/nuclear-power-as-a-solution-to-global-warming-is-theoretically/) [Arjun Makhijani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-makhijani/) > [ The only countries that are outside of \[ Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty\] are Israel, Pakistan, India, and North Korea withdrew in the last few years. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-only-countries-that-are-outside-of-nuclear-non-proliferation/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [The court was unable to rule on all circumstances in which nuclear weapons might be used, and it said in view of the problems,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-court-was-unable-to-rule-on-all-circumstances-in-which-nuclear/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [ The countries outside the Non-Proliferation Treaty also are bound by that obligation \[ Article Six of the treaty\] according to, at least it's a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/the-countries-outside-the-non-proliferation-treaty-also-are-bound-by/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [There is an international treaty framework for this. 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