In accordance with the strategy of “flexible response,” adopted by NATO in 1967, NATO therefore declared that it would use whatever weapons necessary – including nuclear weapons – to defeat any attack. This was intended to raise sufficient concern in the mind of Soviet leaders to prevent, or deter, aggression.

When the Cold War ended and the Warsaw Pact was disbanded, NATO radically reduced its reliance on nuclear weapons. Although they remained in existence and therefore formed part of NATO’s long term insurance against future risks to security, they could be given a much less prominent role. Adjustments were made to NATO’s nuclear strategy and deployments. Less than one year after the Berlin Wall had fallen, NATO leaders proclaimed that "the circumstances in which use of nuclear weapons might have to be contemplated had become even more remote than in the past". In October 1991, NATO decided to eliminate 80 percent of its short and medium range nuclear weapons systems. By 1993, almost all categories of nuclear weapons in these ranges, such as surface-to-surface missiles and nuclear artillery shells, had been removed. Limited numbers of aircraft-delivered nuclear bombs remained, although the level of these weapons was also reduced by well over 50 per cent. NATO decided that these cuts were justified and could safely be made, despite the fact that many short and medium range nuclear weapons continued to be deployed in Russia. However, public statements that Russia had increased its reliance on tactical nuclear weapons were a matter of concern. Equally, in view of the potential risk of accidents or of the weapons being stolen or falling into the wrong hands, the question of the protection and safekeeping of nuclear systems maintained by Russia is of the utmost importance. Meanwhile, the strategic nuclear weapons of NATO were also being reduced. The United States, under the Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty with Russia (START I), reduced its strategic nuclear weapons from over 10,000 to 6,000 and agreed to further reduce them to between 3,000 and 3,500, once Russia had ratified the next reductions treaty known as START II. The Treaty was ratified by the Russian Duma (parliament) in May 2000. The United Kingdom and France, NATO’s other two nuclear powers, have also made major reductions in their nuclear programmes.

NATO’s remaining nuclear weapons are not aimed at any particular country. Their purpose is to prevent any state from believing that it can coerce a NATO member country by using military threats.