The motivations and unintended consequences of the US pursuit of missile defense

American policy makers have insisted that the purpose of recent US missile-defense efforts is limited to defending the United States against rogue states and that these defenses do not weaken strategic stability by threatening the Russian or Chinese nuclear deterrent. However, despite this insistence, the United States appears to be assembling the technological building blocks of a national missile defense that may have the capability to be quickly reconfigured against Russia or China. Using the theoretical framework of “technology creep,” this article examines the reasons for the disconnect between the stated US doctrine and the pursuit of advanced technologies that significantly expand the capabilities of US missile defense. The article concludes by recommending a rethinking of the logic and purpose of US limited missile defense to avert a renewed nuclear-arms race.