Biden Approves New US Nuclear Strategy Amid Rising Global Tensions

 

President Joe Biden has approved a revised US nuclear strategy aimed at addressing potential threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, as reported by The New York Times on Tuesday. This new strategy, known as the Nuclear Employment Guidance, reflects a significant shift in policy in response to the increasing size and capability of global nuclear arsenals.

The updated strategy takes into account China's rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, which is expected to become as substantial and diverse as those of the US and Russia within the next decade. The policy also responds to recent threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has hinted at the potential use of nuclear weapons in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Although Biden approved the revised nuclear strategy in March, an unclassified summary of the policy has yet to be submitted to Congress. This move marks a departure from previous years of nuclear arms reduction efforts and signals a renewed willingness to bolster the US nuclear arsenal in response to emerging global threats.

In February, the US raised concerns that Russia might be considering the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, adding urgency to the strategic review. The Times reported that senior administration officials had previously hinted at changes in US nuclear strategy, but details remained classified.

Pranay Vaddi, a senior director on the National Security Council, indicated in June that the US was prepared to shift from modernizing existing nuclear weapons to expanding its arsenal if China and Russia did not adjust their nuclear strategies. The updated guidance emphasizes the need to deter simultaneous threats from Russia, China, and North Korea.

This strategic update comes as the New START treaty—the last major arms control agreement with Russia, which limits intercontinental-range nuclear weapons—is set to expire in early 2026, with no new agreements on the horizon. Meanwhile, China and Russia have strengthened their political and economic ties, exemplified by joint long-range bomber patrols near Alaska and live-fire exercises in the South China Sea.

Vipin Narang, an MIT nuclear strategist and former Pentagon advisor, confirmed earlier this month that Biden's updated guidance reflects the growing size and diversity of China's nuclear arsenal and the need to prepare for multiple nuclear-armed adversaries. "It is our responsibility to see the world as it is, not as we hoped or wished it would be," Narang stated. He added that the post-Cold War period might be viewed as a "nuclear intermission" as global tensions intensify.

The new strategy underscores a pivotal moment in US nuclear policy, as it adapts to the evolving geopolitical landscape and aims to maintain strategic stability amidst rising international nuclear capabilities.