In March, US President Joe Biden approved a highly classified nuclear strategy that for the first time refocuses America’s deterrent efforts on China’s rapidly expanding nuclear capabilities. The Pentagon anticipates that within the next decade, China’s nuclear arsenal will rival those of the United States and Russia in size and diversity.
The new strategy, known as the “Nuclear Employment Guidance,” also prepares the U.S. for potential simultaneous nuclear challenges from China, Russia, and North Korea. Although the White House has not publicly announced the strategy, senior administration officials have subtly referenced the shift in recent speeches, with a more detailed notification to Congress expected before Biden’s term ends.
The strategy underscores the necessity of deterring multiple nuclear-armed adversaries, reflecting a significant change in Washington’s approach, especially given the growing military cooperation between Russia and China and North Korea’s and Iran’s arms support to Russia in the Ukraine conflict. This marks a fundamental shift in U.S. nuclear planning, considering the evolving global threats.
