Biden administration is changing its nuclear policy

Subject

The past year has seen a significant transformation in the debate over US nuclear weapons policy.

Significance

Due to growing threats from Russia, North Korea and especially China, establishment opinion in the United States has moved sharply toward favouring a stronger nuclear deterrent. The Biden administration has reluctantly abandoned expectations of near-term arms control and Congress is now considering how rapidly and extensively to modernise US nuclear forces.

Impacts

• The Biden administration’s policy change is linked to the "multiple nuclear challenger problem" as nuclear adversaries appear to align.
• Having focused on deterring a single nuclear attack, Pentagon planners are now developing plans to defeat a combined Chinese-Russian strike.
• Growing calls for more US nuclear weapons and delivery platforms are intended to give presidents more response options to emerging threats.