The United States does not need more nuclear weapons to deter nuclear forces from Russia and China, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday.
Sullivan also said Washington would abide by limits on strategic nuclear weapons set out in the START III treaty in 2010 until the pact expires in 2026 if Russia does the same. In addition, the United States wants arms control talks with Moscow and Beijing.
Sullivan said this during a speech at an event hosted by the Arms Control Association. His speech was another appeal by the United States to its major geopolitical rivals to help mend what Sullivan called “major cracks” in the decades-old global system designed to prevent nuclear war.
Moscow and Beijing have so far rejected these initiatives.
China, at odds with the United States over Taiwan and increasing its nuclear arsenal, has refused to engage in dialogue to reduce the risk of conflict with Washington. Moreover, this week, the US Secretary of Defense was denied talks with his Chinese counterpart.
The Pentagon says China should more than triple its nuclear arsenal to 1,500 warheads by 2035.
Russia, which has threatened to use nuclear weapons in a war against Ukraine, said in February it was suspending its participation in the START III treaty. Washington called Moscow’s actions “irresponsible and illegal.”
On Thursday, the United States stopped sending notifications to Russia required by the treaty.
The most recent US-Russian strategic arms control agreement, START III, limited the number of strategic nuclear warheads the parties can deploy to 1,550. It also limits the number of land-based and submarine-launched missiles and bombers. sailors to deliver them to 700.
Sullivan noted that for many years the rival countries did not discuss other contentious issues of “strategic stability” in order to reduce the risks of a nuclear confrontation.
The United States is developing “new strategies” to adapt to the new era, he said, including modernizing its nuclear forces and developing advanced conventional weapons such as hypersonic missiles “that will sustain our military for decades”.
With the expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal, for the first time, the United States can take on two great rivals where it previously only faced Russia.
However, Sullivan said advanced military capabilities and stronger alliances with allies could contain conflicts with both sides.
“The United States does not need to augment our nuclear forces to outnumber the combined power of our rivals and successfully deter them,” Sullivan said. Nor does the United States need to deploy ever more dangerous nuclear weapons to maintain deterrence. On the contrary, our approach to containment means “better, not more”.
The United States is seeking to enter into unconditional talks with China to reduce the risk of conflict and talks with Russia on a strategic arms limitation treaty to replace START III, which expires in February 2026, he said. .
“In announcing the suspension of START III, Russia also publicly committed to respecting the main limitations of the treaty, indicating a potential willingness to continue limiting strategic nuclear forces until 2026. We agree with this” , Sullivan said.
Saying that “indefinite competition” in nuclear weapons is not in the interest of either country, he added that Washington is “ready to adhere to central restrictions (START III) as long as Russia does.” .
“Instead of waiting for all of our bilateral disputes to be resolved, the United States is prepared to engage Russia now to manage nuclear risks and develop an arms control system after 2026,” Sullivan continued.
However, the pact must take into account China’s growing nuclear arsenal, he said.
“The type of restrictions the United States might agree to after the treaty expires will, of course, depend on the size and scope of China’s rise. This is why we are also ready to engage with China without preconditions,” the White House national security adviser added.
Read the Ukraine War News Latest Today on The Eastern Herald.
