US has not reoriented its nuclear stances towards Russia and China, the White House clarifies
Reuters
The newspaper La Jornada
Thursday, August 22, 2024, p. 30
Washington. A nuclear strategic plan approved by President Joe Biden this year is not a response to a single country or threat, the White House explained, after the New York Times reported that the US deterrence strategy had been reoriented to focus on China’s expansion and its nuclear arsenal for the first time.
The US-based Arms Control Association said it understood that the US nuclear weapons strategy and posture remained the same as outlined in the administration’s 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, and that there had been no reorientation away from Russia and toward China.
He New York Times He said the White House never announced that Biden had approved the Nuclear Use Guidance strategy, but an unclassified notification of the review is expected to be sent to Congress before he leaves office.
The paper said that two senior administration officials had made a point of alluding to the strategy review in recent speeches. The paper said the strategy is updated approximately every four years.
Asked about the report, White House spokesman Sean Savett said: “This administration, like the four before it, issued a Nuclear Posture Review and Nuclear Weapons Use Planning Guidance.
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, stressed that while U.S. intelligence estimates suggest China could increase the size of its nuclear arsenal from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030, Russia currently has about 4,000 warheads. and remains the main driver of US nuclear strategy.
Kimball cited statements made in June by one of the officials referred to in the report. TimesWhite House Senior Director for Arms Control, Disarmament and Nonproliferation Pranay Vaddi.
According to those comments, the U.S. strategy was to seek nuclear arms restrictions with China and Russia, but if Beijing continued on its current trajectory and if Moscow exceeded the limits of New START, Washington might at some point have to consider adjustments to the size and composition of its nuclear force, Kimball said.