A U.S. White House official has warned that if Russia, China, and North Korea do not cooperate in reducing nuclear threats against the U.S. and its allies, the U.S. may have to increase its deployed nuclear weapons for defense.
Pranay Vaddi, Senior Officer for Arms control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation at the National Security Council (NSC), pointed out at the annual meeting of the Arms Control Association (ACA) on the 7th (local time), “Russia, China, and North Korea are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear weapons at a dangerous pace, showing little or no interest in arms control.”
He stated, “These three countries, along with Iran, are cooperating and coordinating in ways that are counterproductive to peace and stability, threatening the U.S., its allies, and partners, and escalating regional tensions.” In response to this worsening security environment, Vaddi said the U.S. has chosen a “more competitive approach.”
As an example of this approach, Vaddi mentioned President Joe Biden’s recently released Nuclear Weapons Operational Guidelines, which have been revised to reflect the realities of the new nuclear age. He stated, “The guidelines emphasize the need to consider the increase and diversification of Chinese nuclear weapons, along with the need to deter Russia, China, and North Korea simultaneously.”
Vaddi said, “We don’t need to expand our nuclear forces to match or exceed the total nuclear weapons holdings to successfully deter our competitors. However, if Russia, China, and North Korea do not change their current trajectory, the U.S. will need to continue adjusting its capabilities and readiness to ensure future deterrence and achieve other objectives.”
He cited the development of the B61-13 gravity bomb to replace the existing B83 gravity bomb and the life extension of specific Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines as examples of measures the U.S. has already taken.
Vaddi explained, “These measures will enhance our deterrence without increasing the total number of nuclear weapons. We are focusing on better approaches, not on more approaches.” However, he emphasized, “What we need to make clear is that if there is no change in the trajectory of enemy nuclear weapons, we may reach a point in a few years where we need to increase the number of currently deployed nuclear weapons. We need to be fully prepared to implement such a decision by the President.”
Vaddi also discussed the importance of U.S. extended deterrence in maintaining the international non-proliferation regime. He pointed out, “Our allies are facing increasing nuclear and conventional threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, and they may be concerned about the credibility of the promised extended deterrence.” He added, “We are fully committed to strengthening our alliance system to ensure that extended deterrence continues to contribute to nuclear nonproliferation.” He cited the Washington Declaration with South Korea as an example of efforts to approach nuclear-related scenarios as equal partners. Regarding North Korea, he criticized, “North Korea’s response to our attempts to engage in dialogue on risk reduction and current nuclear issues has been increased missile tests and greater hostility towards our close allies.”