Cruise Control: The Logical Next Step in Nuclear Arms Control?

Abstract

The world is at the start of a new nuclear arms race, with the demise of important arms control agreements and increasingly robust nuclear weapons modernization and expansion plans by multiple countries. As such, the international community is searching for ideas that could change this trajectory and reinvigorate arms control. This article explores one of these ideas: to limit and eliminate nuclear-armed cruise missiles, whether delivered by air, sea, or land. Many countries and non-governmental organizations have developed this concept over the past several years. At times referred to as “cruise control,” it is seen by many who have explored the issue to be attractive, feasible, and likely to be in the mutual interests of many nations.