Biden orders US Forces to brace for potential nuclear confrontations with China, Russia, and North Korea

In one of the major developments, Joe Biden, the President of the United States, has ordered the US forces to get prepared for the potential coordinated nuclear confrontations involving China, Russia, and North Korea. Notably, in March, President Biden approved a classified nuclear strategy that marks a significant shift in US defense policy, focusing primarily on the rapid expansion of China’s nuclear arsenal.

According to The New York Times, the Pentagon's concern stems from China’s accelerated efforts to expand its nuclear capabilities, which experts predict will rival the United States' and Russia's stockpiles in both size and diversity within the next decade. This evolving threat landscape has necessitated a fundamental change in how the US approaches its nuclear deterrence strategy.

Despite the significance of this shift, the White House did not publicly announce the approval of the revised nuclear strategy. The document remains so highly classified that only a few hard copies have been distributed to select national security officials and Pentagon commanders, with no electronic versions existing.

However, in recent speeches, senior administration officials have subtly hinted at the strategic shift. Vipin Narang, an MIT nuclear strategist who briefly served at the Pentagon, mentioned that the updated nuclear-weapons employment guidance now takes into account “multiple nuclear-armed adversaries,” particularly noting the “significant increase in the size and diversity” of China’s nuclear arsenal.

Similarly, Pranay Vaddi, the National Security Council’s senior director for arms control and nonproliferation, emphasized the strategy's focus on deterring Russia, China, and North Korea simultaneously. He noted that the new guidance examines whether the US is adequately prepared to handle nuclear crises that might arise either concurrently or sequentially, involving both nuclear and nonnuclear weapons.

This strategic pivot reflects the growing concern over the deepening partnership between Russia and China, as well as the conventional arms support from North Korea and Iran to Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The evolving geopolitical dynamics underscore the urgent need for the US to adapt its nuclear deterrence strategy in response to these emerging threats.