The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, as a part of its Nuclear Security Programme supported by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), organized a panel discussion on ‘No First Use’ of nuclear weapons at the India International Centre, New Delhi on 06 August 2009.

Dr. Scott Sagan, Professor, Department of Political Science, Stanford University and Co-Director, Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford University, argued that ‘No First Use’ of nuclear weapons is the first step in the move towards global disarmament and delegitimization of nuclear weapons. He made a compelling case for the United States to undertake a thorough cost-benefit analysis of adopting a declaratory policy of “no first use” in its forthcoming US Nuclear Posture Review, to take forward President Obama’s commitment, made in his speech in Prague to “reduce the role of nuclear weapons” in America’s national security strategy. To this end, Dr. Sagan suggested the “Base Camp” approach that could serve as a point of departure for all countries to move to the "Summit" and the long-term goal of a nuclear weapons free world.