The White House clarifies that the updated U.S. nuclear strategy is not directed at any specific country, following reports of a shift towards countering China’s nuclear expansion.
United States, Bollywood Fever: A classified nuclear strategic plan approved by President Joe Biden earlier this year is not specifically aimed at any single country or threat, the White House emphasized on Tuesday. This clarification follows a report by the New York Times suggesting that the U.S. deterrence strategy has been reoriented to address China’s nuclear arsenal expansion for the first time.
The U.S.-based Arms Control Association, however, maintains that the U.S. nuclear weapons strategy remains consistent with the framework outlined in the administration’s 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, asserting that there has been no significant shift away from Russia and towards China.
The New York Times reported that the White House had not publicly announced Biden’s approval of the revised strategy, titled the “Nuclear Employment Guidance.” An unclassified notification of the revision is expected to be sent to Congress before Biden leaves office, the report added. The strategy is typically updated every four years.
In response to inquiries about the report, White House spokesperson Sean Savett stated: “This administration, like the four administrations before it, issued a Nuclear Posture Review and Nuclear Weapons Employment Planning Guidance. While the specific text of the Guidance is classified, its existence is in no way secret. The Guidance issued earlier this year is not a response to any single entity, country, nor threat.”
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, noted that while U.S. intelligence suggests China may expand its nuclear arsenal from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030, Russia, with its estimated 4,000 nuclear warheads, remains the primary influence on U.S. nuclear strategy.
Kimball referenced remarks made in June by White House Senior Director for Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation, Pranay Vaddi, who indicated that the U.S. strategy aims to pursue nuclear arms control with both China and Russia. However, if China continues on its current path and if Russia exceeds New START treaty limits, the U.S. may need to consider adjustments to its nuclear force size and composition in the future.
“My understanding is that the point at which the current administration thinks it might want to consider such changes won’t come until 2030, or sometime after,” Kimball concluded.
Also Read Other Articles, Maria Branyas, World’s Oldest Person, Passes Away Peacefully at 117
