The policy of flexible response was adopted by President Kennedy as an alternative to massive retaliation. It emphasized a range of military options to address different levels of conflict rather than relying solely on nuclear weapons.
The policy of flexible response was developed during the Cold War, primarily under the administration of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s. This strategic approach emerged as an alternative to the doctrine of massive retaliation, which pledged overwhelming force in response to aggression. The flexible response aimed to provide a variety of military options that could be tailored to the level of threat, including conventional forces and nuclear weapons.
The policy of flexible response significantly influenced U.S. military strategy and international relations during the Cold War. It allowed for a more nuanced approach to dealing with conflicts, such as the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis, avoiding the binary choice between inaction and full-scale nuclear war. Over time, this policy demonstrated a shift towards more adaptable and graduated defense strategies in geopolitical conflicts, setting a precedent for crisis management that is still relevant in contemporary security policies.