Pentagon Drafts New Nuclear Strategy Weighing Tactical Weapons for Potential Conflict With Russia and China

The Pentagon is drafting a revised nuclear strategy that would give the president expanded options in a regional conflict with Russia or China, NBC reported Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the plans and identifying Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby as overseeing the classified review 1. The draft places greater emphasis on shorter-range tactical nuclear weapons for regional scenarios, rather than relying primarily on long-range strategic weapons, according to NBC and a subsequent Breitbart report 12. Defense officials told NBC the review is intended to address scenarios in which US allies come under attack from Russia or China, with the stated aim of providing more "realistic and credible" options to strengthen deterrence 1. Colby, a longtime advocate of tactical nuclear weapons, has argued adversaries already understand the US is prepared to use them, and some specialists have warned the shift could weaken deterrence by making the threat of a large-scale nuclear strike less credible 1. RT's account, relayed from NBC's reporting, adds that the review comes roughly six months after the New START treaty expired in February without a replacement 3.