The need for planning was mentioned during Pentagon officials' testimony to Congress on countries WMD capabilities, with Russia, China, Iran, North Korea and non-state terrorist actors all listed as threats to the US and its interests.
The US and its allies need to develop plans to fight and win in a war against Russia in which nuclear weapons are used, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Homeland Defence and Global Security Theresa Whelan has said.
In a closed hearing to the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on intelligence and emerging threats this week, Whelan warned that Moscow was “increasing its already large arsenal of non-strategic or ‘tactical' nuclear weapons, which Russia will use to compensate for NATO's conventional military superiority.
“This necessitates increased attention on how the Joint Force could fight and win in a nuclear-contaminated environment,” she added.
US Estimates Russia Has Spent $28 Billion Modernizing Nuclear Forces
According to Whelan, Russia has “prioritized investments” in “a diverse set” of nuclear delivery systems, and “has committed $28 billion and nearing completion of the modernization of its nuclear triad. President Vladimir Putin announced in 2018 that Russia is developing several destabilizing new strategic nuclear weapons that are designed to evade and counter traditional missile defences. These include a nuclear-powered cruise missile, an autonomous underwater vehicle, and a recently…
