US reviews nuclear policy amid global tensions and arms race fears
- Russia, the PRC and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals. We may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required - said Pranay Vaddi, the Director of Arms Control in the U.S. National Security Council. However, Joe Biden's advisor noted that Washington still abides by the limits set by the US-Russian New START treaty.
- Russia, the PRC and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control. It reaffirms our commitment to use arms control and other tools to minimize the number of nuclear weapons needed to achieve U.S. objectives. Let me be clear (that) absent a change in the trajectory of adversary arsenals, we may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required. - Vaddi said during the Arms Control Association conference in Washington, D.C on Friday.
The official responsible for nuclear weapons policy at the White House outlined the administration's plan regarding the modernization of the U.S. atomic arsenal, focusing more on its quality than quantity.
He mentioned the introduction of the new B61-13 aerial bomb, which is expected to enhance the capabilities to strike larger and "harder" military targets.
He also emphasized that the U.S. still adheres to the limit of deployed nuclear warheads (1,550) set by the U.S.-Russian New START treaty, which has been in force since 2010. He expressed hope that adhering to these limits would encourage Russia to engage in talks about a further nuclear arms control agreement.
Russia suspended the New START treaty last year, which will expire in 2026. Moscow refuses to negotiate a new agreement. Vaddi stated that this stance, combined with China's rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal and North Korea's actions, could provoke a new arms race.
- Practically speaking, they are forcing the U.S., our close allies and partners, to prepare for a world where nuclear competition occurs without numerical constraints - he assessed.
