The White House revealed on Tuesday that a newly approved classified nuclear strategy by President Joe Biden is not aimed at any specific country or threat. This statement comes in response to a New York Times report suggesting that the US had shifted its nuclear deterrence focus towards countering China’s growing arsenal for the first time.
The US-based Arms Control Association stated that the US nuclear weapons strategy and posture remain consistent with the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, with no shift in focus from Russia to China.
According to The New York Times, the White House has not publicly announced President Biden's approval of the revised strategy, known as the "Nuclear Employment Guidance," although an unclassified notification to Congress is anticipated before Biden's term ends.
The newspaper noted that in recent speeches, two senior administration officials subtly referenced the strategy revision, which typically occurs every four years.
Asked about the report, White House spokesperson Sean Savett said: "This administration, like the four administrations before it, issued a Nuclear Posture Review and Nuclear Weapons Employment Planning Guidance.
"While the specific text of the Guidance is classified, its existence is in no way secret. The Guidance issued earlier this year is not a response to any single entity, country, nor threat."
Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, said that while US intelligence estimates suggest China may increase the size of its nuclear arsenal from 500 to 1,000 warheads by 2030, Russia currently has some 4,000 nuclear warheads "and it remains the major driver behind US nuclear strategy."
Kimball cited June remarks by one of the officials referred to in the Times report, White House Senior Director for Arms Control, Disarmament, and Nonproliferation Pranay Vaddi.
According to those remarks, US strategy was to pursue nuclear arms restraints with China and Russia, but if China continued on its current trajectory and if Russia exceeds New START limits, the US at some point in the future may need to consider adjustments to the size and makeup of its nuclear force, Kimball said.
"My understanding is that the point at which the current administration thinks it might want to consider such changes won't come until 2030, or some time after," he said.
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