What is the U.S. policy regarding the use of nuclear assets?

The U.S. policy regarding the use of nuclear assets is centered around the principle of deterrence and the concept that nuclear weapons should be employed as a last resort. This reflects a strategic consideration that while the U.S. maintains nuclear capabilities as a means to secure national defense and deter potential aggressors, the actual use of nuclear weapons is reserved for extreme circumstances where no other options would be effective in ensuring the country's safety and security. This aligns with the broader doctrine of nuclear strategy, which emphasizes a careful and restrained approach to the use of such powerful and devastating weapons, ensuring that they remain as a tool of deterrence rather than a first strike option.