Editing Deterrence theory (section)

===Minimum deterrence===
As opposed to the extreme [[mutually assured destruction]] form of deterrence, the concept of [[minimum deterrence]] in which a state possesses no more nuclear weapons than is necessary to deter an adversary from attacking is presently the most common form of deterrence practiced by [[nuclear weapon states]], such as China, India, Pakistan, Britain, and France.<ref>Kristensen, Hans M, Robert S Norris, and Ivan Oelrich. "[https://fas.org/pubs/_pages/occ_pap7.html From Counterforce to Minimal Deterrence: A New Nuclear Policy on the Path Toward Eliminating Nuclear Weapons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620163400/https://fas.org/pubs/_pages/occ_pap7.html |date=2015-06-20 }}." [https://fas.org/ ''Federation of American Scientists''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921014729/https://fas.org/ |date=2017-09-21 }}. April 2009. Accessed July 31, 2010.</ref> Pursuing [[minimal deterrence]] during arms negotiations between the United States and Russia allows each state to make [[nuclear stockpile]] reductions without the state becoming vulnerable, but it has been noted that there comes a point that further reductions may be undesirable, once minimal deterrence is reached, as further reductions beyond that point increase a state's vulnerability and provide an incentive for an adversary to expand its nuclear arsenal secretly.<ref>[[Barry Nalebuff|Nalebuff, Barry]]. "Minimal Nuclear Deterrence." ''[[Journal of Conflict Resolution]]'' 32, no. 3 (September 1988): p. 424.</ref>

France has developed and maintained its own [[Force de frappe|nuclear deterrent]] under the belief that the United States will refuse to risk its own cities by assisting Western Europe in a nuclear war.<ref name="ullman1989">{{cite journal | jstor=1148862 | title=The Covert French Connection | author=Ullman, Richard H. | journal=Foreign Policy |date=Summer 1989 | volume=75 | issue=75 | pages=3–33| doi=10.2307/1148862 }}</ref>