Adopting ‘no first use’ nuke policy would be a US disaster giving world dominance to Russia and China, expert warns
10:50 ET,
IF the US was to adopt a “no first use” nuclear weapons policy it would pave the way for China and Russia to exert world dominance, an expert warns.
For decades, the US has tried to reduce its reliance on nukes but hasn’t made a commitment that it would never use them first.
Dozens of Democrats are calling on President Biden to declare a “no first use” policy although such a radical shift doesn’t appear to be imminent.
It would mean nuclear weapons would be used primarily to deter a potential attack on America and its allies, rather than initiate a conflict.
Geopolitical expert Brandon J Weichert told The Sun that if Washington invoked such a policy America’s enemies would view it as a “sign of weakness”.
He said: “By removing the possibility of a no-first strike nuclear weapons program, Washington is removing any chance of uncertainty in dealing with foes such as Russia or China.
“Uncertainty creates leverage in dealings with rivals that America might otherwise lack.”
Weichert warned that North Korea and Iran would view an NFU policy as “open season” on the world.
He said: “An NFU policy would debilitate the slowly unfolding American strategy of containing China and deterring Russia by removing the credibility of nuclear weapons.
“An NFU policy is simply not worth the paper it would be written on.”
The chilling warning comes after it was reported that more than 50 Democrats urged Biden to declare a “no first use” policy, Air Force Magazine reports.
Lawmakers that signed the letter branded a potential NFU policy a “once-in-a-generation opportunity”.
They called on the president to support diplomatic efforts with Moscow and Beijing and they “questioned the necessity of new nuclear weapons”.
During the 2020 presidential election campaign, Biden implied that the US would be less reliant on nukes.
Biden appeared inclined to support a strategy that could see the US launch an attack in retaliation, but not strike pre-emptively.
Such a strategy would be known as a “sole purpose”, creating the impression that the US would use its nuclear arsenal to deter rogue nations.
Some lawmakers appear to be calling for a shift in policy at a time when China is threatening the US’ dominance as a nuclear power.
Last year’s Pentagon report claimed Beijing was aiming to build around 700 thermonuclear warheads by 2027, and 1,000 warheads by 2030.
Officials in Washington were left reeling afterBeijing allegedly tested a hypersonic missilethat orbited the Earth in July, and apparently launched a second missile during the same test event.
Sam Armstrong, of the Henry Jackson Society, warned that China is developing weapons at a speed that are designed to take out enemy vessels.
Space Force General David Thompson admitted: “We’re not as advanced as the Chinese or the Russians in terms of hypersonic programs.”
Europe appears to be teetering towards war despite diplomatic efforts by world leaders as they try to avoid a conflict.
President Biden told Americans to leave Ukraine “immediately” on Thursday.
He told NBC: “It’s not like we’re dealing with a terrorist organization. We’re dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. It’s a very different situation and things could go crazy quickly.”
Thousands of US troops have been deployed to Eastern Europe to assist NATO allies and at least 130 tons of American weapons are now in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 Russian troops have been massed by the border for weeks.
Biden doesn’t expect a situation where American soldiers will start helping US citizens evacuate.
He said: “That’s a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. We’re in a very different world than we’ve ever been.”
Weichert previously warned that the West has “little” to gain should a war over Ukraine break out.
He said: “This is very, very dangerous and could risk destabilizing the world order and sending us into a world war that might go nuclear.”
Meanwhile, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has boasted that he will be “shaking the world” with more missile tests.
The Supreme Leader claims hydrogen bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and hypersonic missiles, which can dodge US missile detection systems, are amongst his arsenal.
Pyongyang warned that the tests represented “remarkable achievements”, and claimed they strengthened the country’s “war deterrence”.
A record seven tests in January alone and the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile was launched as part of the experiments.
January’s tests also saw the launch of the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is capable of striking U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean.
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