The administration of US President Donald Trump has signaled that it could expand the use of nuclear weapons as part of a new security strategy.
The White House released the National Security Strategy (NSS) on Monday, calling nuclear weapons “the foundation of our strategy to preserve peace and stability by deterring aggression against the United States.”
The wider role for nuclear weapons against “non-nuclear strategic attacks” was one of several ways in which Trump’s approach differed from his predecessor, Barack Obama.
The policy document criticizes de-emphasizing the role of nuclear weapons as a key to American defense by previous administrations since the Cold War.
The new strategy suggests downgrading nuclear weapons had not prevented nuclear-armed adversaries expanding their arsenals and delivery systems.
“While nuclear deterrence strategies cannot prevent all conflict, they are essential to prevent nuclear attack,…