Yes, "no first use" means a nuclear state can be stymied in conventional proxy wars. That's an acceptable trade-off, since it limits escalation. Better to lose

Yes, "no first use" means a nuclear state can be stymied in conventional proxy wars. That's an acceptable trade-off, since it limits escalation. Better to lose a proxy war than to "win" a nuclear exchange. Also, only an insane attacker would test the limits of "no first use" by invading a nuclear state's sovereign territory. If there's any time to renege on such a policy, that's it. Not to mention: if an enemy invades, your nukes are at risk of falling into their hands.