Janice R. Andrews
A major change in Washington’s defence strategy has occurred with the approval of a top-secret strategic nuclear plan by U.S. President Joe Biden. The plan focusses primarily on the rising nuclear danger posed by China. The plan, approved in March of this year, is the first of its type, according to a story by The New York Times, to refocus American nuclear policy on China’s growing nuclear arsenal.
The research emphasises how the government in the United States is becoming more concerned not only about China but also about the combined dangers from North Korea and Russia. The goal of the new plan, known as the “Nuclear Employment Guidance,” is to get the United States ready for any coordinated nuclear threats that these three countries could make. The information is still secret, but it highlights the need for a more thorough assessment of the world’s nuclear risks.
Although this major policy change has not been made public, an unclassified notification to Congress is anticipated before Biden’s tenure expires in January 2025, according to the New York Times. This action is consistent with the yearly assessment from the U.S. Department of Defence, which highlights China’s military capabilities will continue to increase until at least 2035. Another important component of China’s strategic strategy, according to the paper, is its “unlimited” alliance with Russia.
In response to the study, the White House stated that the administration’s nuclear posture is still in line with the Nuclear Posture Review from 2022. “The Guidance issued earlier this year is not a response to any single entity, country, or threat,” said Sean Savett, a spokesman for the White House. This suggests that, despite the obvious focus on China, Russia continues to be a major worry in the broader U.S. nuclear policy.
Russia now possesses around 4,000 nuclear weapons; China, on the other hand, might boost its arsenal to 1,000 warheads by 2030, according to Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association. This increasing threat emphasises how the United States must modify its nuclear policy to take on new threats to international security.
