The White House National Security Council’s senior official in charge of arms control, Pranay Vaddi, stated on Friday (June 7th) that the United States may have to deploy more strategic nuclear weapons in the coming years to counter the growing threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries.
The U.S. has been urging China and Russia to engage in talks to limit their arsenals, but both countries have rejected the proposal. Vaddi outlined a policy shift on Friday during a speech on arms control, aimed at pressuring China and Russia to accept negotiations for arms control set forth by the United States.
According to Reuters, Vaddi told the Arms Control Association that if there is no change in the adversaries’ arsenals, the U.S. might need to increase weapon deployments at some point in the coming years.
“If the President makes that decision, we need to be prepared to execute it fully,” he said. “If that day comes, we will decide that we need more nuclear weapons to deter our adversaries and protect the American people, as well as our allies and partners.”
Vaddi also mentioned that the Biden administration remains committed to international arms control and non-proliferation efforts aimed at curbing nuclear weapons. However, he noted that China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran “are rapidly expanding their nuclear arsenals and diversifying them, showing little or no interest in arms control.” These countries, along with Iran, “are increasingly cooperating and coordinating in ways that defy peace and stability, threatening the United States, our allies, and partners, and exacerbating regional tensions.”
The White House official on arms control also pointed out that China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are sharing advanced missile and drone technologies, such as Russia using Iranian drones in Ukraine and North Korean artillery and missiles. He also highlighted China’s support for Russia’s defense industry.
Vaddi stated that the U.S. nuclear doctrine is to keep nuclear weapons reserved for deterring attacks against “us and our allies and partners,” while continuing to work with the UK and France on “transparency” in nuclear policy and capabilities.
However, he mentioned that if U.S. adversaries increase their reliance on nuclear weapons, “we will have no choice but to adjust our posture and capabilities to maintain deterrence and stability.” The U.S. government is taking “prudent steps” for this, including modernizing the U.S. arsenal.