The Pentagon is developing a new nuclear strategy that would provide President Donald Trump with expanded options for employing shorter-range nuclear weapons in regional conflicts, according to a report by NBC News.
The classified effort, reportedly led by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, focuses on tactical nuclear weapons, which are designed for use against military targets in a localized conflict. This approach would shift emphasis away from a primary reliance on long-range strategic nuclear forces.
The strategy is intended for scenarios where adversaries like China or Russia attack a U.S. ally, requiring Washington to determine a response that avoids immediate escalation to a large-scale strategic nuclear exchange.
"Our view is that we need credible nuclear options," a senior Defense Department official told NBC News, adding that the strategy aims to "expand the President’s option space by providing him with realistic and credible options and therefore strengthen deterrence."
The reported development comes as the U.S. faces increasing challenges from two nuclear-armed adversaries. Russia has a substantial stockpile of theater nuclear weapons and has invoked its nuclear capabilities during the conflict in Ukraine. China is also rapidly modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal, creating what U.S. military officials describe as a "two-peer nuclear challenge."
Tactical nuclear weapons, also known as non-strategic nuclear weapons, are generally intended for use in a theater of operations rather than for long-range strategic missions. While they may have shorter-range delivery systems and be targeted at military assets, their use could still result in significant casualties and radioactive fallout, potentially triggering nuclear retaliation.
The Defense Department has not publicly announced any changes to its nuclear employment policy or initiated a new tactical nuclear weapons program. The Pentagon has been contacted for comment.
This strategic review follows the expiration of the New START treaty six months ago, the last agreement limiting U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. Its expiration has left both nations without binding limits or inspections on these weapons for the first time in decades. The treaty did not cover tactical nuclear weapons, an area where Russia is believed to hold a significant numerical advantage, with U.S. Strategic Command estimating Moscow possesses up to 2,000 such warheads.
Russia has historically relied on its non-strategic nuclear arsenal to counterbalance NATO's conventional military strength. China's expanding arsenal presents an additional challenge for Pentagon planners anticipating potential confrontations with two nuclear-armed competitors.
Proponents of the reported strategy suggest that offering more credible limited-response options could enhance deterrence by signaling to adversaries that the U.S. has capabilities to respond without resorting to an all-out strategic exchange. Critics, however, express concern that emphasizing weapons intended for regional use could lower the threshold for nuclear weapon deployment and increase the risk of a limited conflict escalating into a broader nuclear war.