WASHINGTON, April 6 (Saba) -- US President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the U.S. defense policy "reaffirms Americas unwavering commitment" to reducing the role of nuclear weapons in its defense strategy, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Obamas announcement came after the Pentagon unveiled its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), which focuses on reducing the role and number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. national security strategy with the aim of eliminating nuclear weapons world-wide.

The president praised the NPR as a "significant step forward" towards reducing the role of nuclear weapons.

Obama said the NPR "recognizes the greatest threat to U.S. and global security is no longer a nuclear exchange between nations, but nuclear terrorism by violent extremists and nuclear proliferation to an increasing number of states," affirming that U.S. national security can be defended by top-notch conventional military capabilities and strong missile defense.

He added, "preventing nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism is now at the top of Americas nuclear agenda, which affirms the central importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." However, he cautioned nations that fail to meet their obligations outlined by the NPT "will find themselves more isolated, and will recognize that the pursuit of nuclear weapons will not make them more secure." Obama called the Nuclear Security Summit, to be held in Washington on April 12-13, an "opportunity" for 47 nations to commit to locking down loose nuclear materials within four years.
"Our nuclear security summit next week will be an opportunity for 47 nations to commit to specific steps to pursue the goal of security for all vulnerable nuclear materials around the world within four years," Obama said, adding, "Next month in New York, we will work with the wider world to strengthen the global non-proliferation regime to ensure that all nations uphold their responsibilities." Prior to the summit, one of the biggest summits ever in Washington, Obama will sign a new U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty on Friday.

Obama said the treaty which commits the U.S. and Russia substantially reducing their nuclear arsenals, will help stop the spread of nuclear weapons and "pursue the peace and security of a world without them."

Saba