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India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
China adds 100 Nuclear bombs in one year, India have 8 : Here's how many nukes Pakistan, Russia, Israel and others inducted
China adds 100 Nuclear bombs in one year, India have 8 : Here's how many nukes Pakistan, Russia, Israel and others inducted New Delhi: Amid the ongoing tensions across the globe, nine nuclear-armed countries in the world— United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel—continued to enhance their nuclear arsenals in 2024. According to the reports, these nations have upgraded older weapons and added new, more powerful ones to their military forces. This situation is becoming a major threat to global security. Russia and the United States continued to dismantle old weapons after the end of the Cold War. This has led to a decline in the global number of nuclear weapons. But now, this trend is changing. The speed of dismantling old arms is slowing down, while the deployment of new weapons is increasing rapidly. Here are some of the important details: An estimated 12,241 nuclear weapons existed worldwide as of January 2025. Of these, around 9,614 were in military stockpiles and ready for use. Approximately 3,912 weapons were deployed on missiles and aircraft, while the rest were kept in central storage. About 2,100 deployed weapons were on ballistic missiles in a state of high operational alert, most of them belonging to Russia and the United States. It is important to note that the Vladimir Putin-led Russia and the United States possess 90 percent of the world's nuclear weapons. As per the reports, the military stockpiles of both countries remained stable in 2024. However, the US and Russia are actively working on modernizing their nuclear arsenals. If the 2010 New START treaty, which is set to expire in 2026, is not renewed, the number of warheads deployed on missiles by both nations could increase. India and Pakistan Situation India, in 2024, increased its nuclear arsenal and developed new delivery systems. India's new 'canisterized' missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, can be deployed even during peacetime. Some of these missiles may be capable of carrying multiple warheads. Pakistan is also developing new delivery systems and expanding its stockpile of nuclear material. In early 2025, an armed conflict broke out between India and Pakistan, raising the threat of a nuclear crisis. SIPRI expert Matt Korda stated that this incident serves as a warning to countries that are increasing their reliance on nuclear weapons.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Deterrence without limits: China's nuclear buildup surges; stockpile may soon match US
AI image China is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal and could soon match the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) strength of the United States or Russia by the end of the decade, reported by South China Morning Post, citing the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) latest yearbook. The report describes China's nuclear build-up as the fastest in the world. China's growing capability may change the strategic calculations of the US and its allies, increasing the risk of a new nuclear arms race. 600 and g rowing SIPRI, reportedly, estimates that China has added roughly 100 warheads each year since 2023, bringing its total stockpile to at least 600 warheads by early 2025. The report warns that this number is expected to continue rising in the coming years. Of these, 132 warheads are already assigned to launchers that are being actively loaded. Global nuclear-race As of January 2025, the world's total nuclear warheads stood at about 12,241, with the US and Russia controlling around 90% of them, according to the report. While China's stockpile remains smaller, the rapid pace of its expansion is raising global concerns. The US and Russia, meanwhile, continue modernising their own arsenals, along with other nuclear-armed nations including the UK, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Israel. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo End of arms control The nuclear race is further complicated by the upcoming expiration of the New START treaty, signed in 2010 between Washington and Moscow, which limits deployed strategic warheads and launchers. With the treaty set to expire in February 2026 and no replacement yet in sight, experts fear that both the US and Russia may also increase their deployed nuclear forces, removing one of the last formal limits on nuclear stockpiles.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nuclear weapons increasing as Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Iran conflict reignites the prospects of World War III
As Russia and Ukraine continue to engage in a bloody and bruising war and the Middle East teeters on the edge of a disastrous conflict with nuclear undertones, the world is rapidly spiralling towards a potential World War III . Russia is the world's most heavily nuclear armed power while Israel, which has opened multiple fronts in the Middle East with the latest target being Iran, is a covert nuke state. Apart from Russia and Israel, there are seven other nuclear-armed countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). According to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ( SIPRI ) report, all the nine nations have gone ahead with modernization of their nuclear program in 2024. Some of the countries have added a large number of nukes including upgrading of the existing weapons along with developing newer and more lethal versions. Nuclear warheads with each country The report states that in January 2025, there were an estimated 12,241 nuclear war heads in possession of the nine countries mentioned above with about 9,614 of them with the militaries for use. The nuclear armed countries had 3,912 nuclear weapons deployed for immediate use on their missiles and combat aircraft, while the remaining were stored away. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NVDA: What's Next After the Selloff? Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo Russia and the US have the maximum number of deployed nuclear weapons. The SIPRI report claims that a small number of the deployed warheads may also belong to China. A total of about 2,100 warheads are mounted on missiles for immediate firing. While the world saw Russia and the US retiring and dismantling a large number of nuclear weapons since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the trend seems to be reversing with new weapons being developed and deployed at a rapid pace which is likely to quicken in the coming years. Live Events World nuclear forces, January 2025 Deployed Stored Military Stockpile Retired Total USA 1 770 1 930 3 700 1 477 5 177 Russia 1 718 2 591 4 309 1 150 5 459 UK 120 105 225 - 225 France 280 10 290 - 290 China 24 576 600 - 600 India - 180 180 - 180 Pakistan - 170 170 - 170 North Korea - 50 50 - 50 Israel - 90 90 - 90 "The era of reductions in the number of nuclear weapons in the world, which had lasted since the end of the cold war, is coming to an end. Instead, we see a clear trend of growing nuclear arsenals, sharpened nuclear rhetoric and the abandonment of arms control agreements," noted Hans M. Kristensen, Associate Senior Fellow with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Russia and the US had in 2010 entered into the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) which expires in February 2026. As the former in involved in a conflict with Ukraine and the US tied up behind the scenes in both the Europe and Middle East wars, the prospects of the treaty getting an extension or a new deal is extremely bleak. As part of their modernization program, both sides could rearm more missiles with multiple warheads as well as reactivate silos from which nukes were pulled out earlier. New non-strategic nuclear weapons by both and the development of new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) like Sarmat by Russia could result in increase in the nukes. China's nukes China's rapid development of nuclear weapons could force the US to adopt a tit-for-tat approach bring the memories of the Cold War era back. SIPRI estimates that China, the world's third largest nuclear power with 600 warheads, is growing its arsenal at rapid pace. . The country is estimated to have added 200 warheads since 2023. China has six major nuclear missile silos spread across the cold deserts in its north and mountains of the east with an estimated capacity of 350 ICBMs. Its pace of ICBM deployment is accelerating, and China could match Russia and the US in deploying nuke-armed missiles before the end of 2030. Painting a rather alarming picture, SIPRI reports that China can have 1,500 warheads by 2035, still only about one third of each of the current Russian and US nuclear stockpiles. Europe prepares for nuclear war Even since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the United Kingdom and France have advocated for a larger nuclear weapon stockpile with the former also speaking about expanding its nuclear umbrella to the rest of Europe if the US decides to pull back as its President Donald Trump has said on multiple occasions. The UK's Integrated Review Refresh in 2023 speaks for increasing the number of warheads. The country may go for four more nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) along with maintaining the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrence, and delivering 'all the needed upgrades'. Similarly, France is going ahead with developing a third-generation SSBN and a new air-launched cruise missile. It is also upgrading its existing arsenal and delivery systems. India now has 180 nuclear warhead, at least 10 more than Pakistan. India is developing new canisterized missiles with Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capabilities. Pakistan, too, has been with China and North Korea's help modernizing its nuclear warheads. 'The combination of strikes on nuclear-related military infrastructure and third-party disinformation risked turning a conventional conflict into a nuclear crisis,' said Matt Korda, Associate Senior Researcher with SIPRI's Weapons of Mass Destruction Programme and Associate Director for the Nuclear Information Project at FAS. 'This should act as a stark warning for states seeking to increase their reliance on nuclear weapons.' North Korea has been developing its nuclear warheads as well as missiles with longer range to target the US mainland. The country is estimated to have 50 warheads with SIPRI reporting enough fissile material to produce up to 40 more nukes as well as on course to develop a tactical nuclear weapon. Israel has never admitted openly to having nuclear weapons but is likely to be in possession of 90 warheads. It is upgrading its plutonium production reactor site at Dimona while in 2024 the country also test-fired a missile propulsion system that could be related to its Jericho family of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
India Holds Nuclear Edge Over Pakistan, Leaps Ahead In Missile Tech: Global Arms Report
Last Updated: SIPRI's latest report shows India edging out Pakistan in both capability and posture as other nuclear powers race to expand arsenals amid rising global tensions As the Israel–Iran war escalates and global security tensions mount, the spectre of nuclear conflict has once again moved to the forefront. But beyond the world's largest stockpiles, it is regional rivalries that are drawing renewed scrutiny. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's (SIPRI) Yearbook 2025, India has not only widened its nuclear lead over Pakistan in terms of warhead numbers, but is also making significant technological advances in missile systems and delivery capability. SIPRI, an independent institute based in Sweden, has tracked global armaments, disarmament, and international security trends since 1966. Its annual yearbook is widely regarded as one of the most credible assessments of the world's nuclear balance. So, who's leading the nuclear race in 2025 and who's catching up fast? SIPRI's new data shows how each country is rearming in a more dangerous world. Russia Russia remains the world's leading nuclear power in terms of total warheads. SIPRI estimates it holds roughly 5,880 nuclear weapons, with many deployed on missiles and submarines, and around 2,100 kept on high operational alert, ready to launch at short notice. Despite these staggering numbers, Russia continues to modernise its nuclear arsenal, aiming to upgrade ageing systems and expand its strike capability. But 2024 saw setbacks, including delays in the Sarmat ICBM, a key next-generation missile, and slower progress across other platforms. With the New START treaty—the last remaining US–Russia arms control agreement—set to expire in 2026, and no new deal in sight, Russia is widely expected to rearm empty silos and increase its deployed warheads, especially as tensions with the West remain high. SIPRI suggests this could mark the start of a more unpredictable and unrestrained nuclear posture. United States Closely behind, the United States possesses an estimated 5,244 nuclear warheads, according to SIPRI, many of which are deployed on submarines, strategic bombers, and land-based missiles. Like Russia, a significant number of these are maintained on high operational alert, capable of being launched within minutes. SIPRI notes that the US is in the midst of a comprehensive modernisation programme, involving the replacement of ageing Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), the construction of new ballistic missile submarines, and the development of next-generation air-launched cruise missiles. However, the report points out that funding and planning issues in 2024 led to delays and increased costs, raising questions about the programme's long-term timeline. At the same time, the US is adding new non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons to its arsenal—a move SIPRI highlights as potentially destabilising, as such weapons are seen as more likely to be used in a limited conflict. With China's nuclear arsenal expanding rapidly, SIPRI warns that internal pressure is building within US defence circles to rearm deactivated launchers and broaden deterrence options—a trend that could accelerate the global arms race. China China is the most dynamic player in the current arms race. SIPRI estimates its arsenal at over 600 nuclear warheads as of early 2025, up from roughly 500 the year before. This makes it the fastest-growing nuclear power in the world. Beijing has built over 350 new ICBM silos in three major desert regions and mountainous areas — indicating an intent to drastically increase its second-strike capabilities. SIPRI also notes that China may now be keeping some warheads mounted on missiles during peacetime, a departure from its earlier policy. At its current pace, China could possess 1,500 warheads by 2035, rivalling the US and Russia in strategic reach, a shift that could fundamentally redraw nuclear deterrence norms. France France holds around 290 nuclear warheads, a number that has remained relatively stable. But behind the scenes, it is actively investing in next-generation systems. In 2024, France continued work on a third-generation nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) and a new air-launched cruise missile, while upgrading its current ballistic missile with a new warhead modification. President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly suggested that France's nuclear weapons could play a broader role in defending Europe, not just France. This idea of giving the French nuclear deterrent a 'European dimension" implies that, in a crisis, France might extend its nuclear protection to other European Union countries. If taken seriously, such a shift could reshape NATO's internal dynamics, especially at a time when the US commitment to European security is under question, and some European states are reconsidering their reliance on the American nuclear umbrella. United Kingdom The United Kingdom has an estimated 225 nuclear warheads, and according to SIPRI, this number is expected to increase in the coming years. In 2024, the newly elected Labour government reaffirmed its commitment to building four new nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) as part of maintaining the UK's continuous at-sea deterrence—a policy under which at least one submarine armed with nuclear weapons is always on patrol. However, SIPRI points out that operational and financial constraints continue to affect the programme's progress, raising doubts about whether construction and deployment will stay on schedule. The 2023 Integrated Review Refresh — the UK's formal defence policy update — had already approved raising the cap on the total number of warheads, reversing earlier disarmament trends. This signals a shift in the UK's strategic posture, moving it further away from its long-standing policy of gradual nuclear reduction. India India now holds an estimated 172 nuclear warheads, according to SIPRI, a modest increase from previous years. However, the more significant development lies not in the number of warheads, but in technological advancements and evolving military posture. India is working on canisterised missile systems, which allow nuclear warheads to be stored and transported pre-mounted onto missiles in sealed containers. If these systems are deployed with warheads already 'mated," it would mark a major doctrinal shift, enabling faster launch readiness and possibly indicating a move toward a more flexible deterrence strategy. There is also speculation, highlighted in SIPRI's assessment, that India's future missiles may be equipped with multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), which would allow a single missile to carry and deliver several nuclear warheads to different targets. This would significantly increase strike capability and survivability, particularly in a first-strike or counterforce scenario. Pakistan Pakistan is estimated to possess around 170 nuclear warheads, and SIPRI notes that it continues to develop new missile delivery systems and produce fissile material at a steady pace—signs of a country actively expanding its arsenal despite lacking transparency or robust oversight mechanisms. Unlike India, which maintains a declared No First Use policy, Pakistan's nuclear doctrine remains deliberately ambiguous and heavily focused on short-range tactical nuclear weapons, designed for battlefield use. This approach, often framed as a deterrent against conventional Indian military superiority, is viewed by many analysts as highly destabilising, since it lowers the threshold for nuclear use in a crisis and increases the risk of early escalation. SIPRI suggests that Pakistan's arsenal could grow further over the next decade, especially as it tries to match India's advancing delivery systems and strategic capabilities. However, Pakistan's continued reliance on opaque doctrine, coupled with its history of nuclear proliferation links and political instability, makes its expanding arsenal a significant source of regional and global concern. Israel Israel's nuclear arsenal is estimated at 80 to 90 warheads, though the country continues to maintain its long-standing policy of nuclear opacity—neither confirming nor denying that it possesses nuclear weapons. This ambiguity is strategic, allowing Israel to project deterrence without inviting direct international scrutiny or arms control obligations. What is evident, however, is that Israel is actively modernising its nuclear delivery capabilities. In 2024, the country conducted a missile propulsion test, which SIPRI assesses is likely related to the Jericho ballistic missile programme—a suspected key component of its nuclear force. Additionally, upgrades have been observed at the Dimona reactor, the core facility believed to support Israel's weapons programme through plutonium production. In the context of the ongoing Israel–Iran war, these developments take on heightened significance. While Iran is not believed to possess nuclear weapons, SIPRI and other expert assessments confirm that it has made substantial progress in uranium enrichment and advanced centrifuge development. This gives Iran the technical capacity to produce a weapon, even if it has not yet done so. The combination of Iran's nuclear latency, regional hostility, and Israel's undeclared but advanced arsenal keeps the strategic balance on a knife's edge. These dynamics are made even more volatile by the absence of any regional arms control framework, the collapse of the JCPOA nuclear deal, and the potential for miscalculation amid open conflict. SIPRI's findings underscore that nuclear ambiguity in an active war zone can be just as destabilising as overt nuclear threats. North Korea SIPRI estimates that North Korea assembled around 50 nuclear warheads as of early 2025 and has produced enough fissile material, primarily enriched uranium and plutonium, to build up to 40 more. This makes North Korea a small but rapidly advancing nuclear power, especially considering its isolated status and limited international oversight. In 2024, South Korean officials warned that North Korea was in the final stages of developing a tactical nuclear weapon—a smaller, shorter-range bomb intended for battlefield use rather than large-scale destruction. If deployed, such weapons would lower the threshold for nuclear use, making them potentially more likely to be used in a regional skirmish or limited conflict. Adding to the concern, Kim Jong Un issued a directive in November 2024 calling for a 'limitless" expansion of the country's nuclear programme, signalling that Pyongyang has no intention of slowing down or re-entering negotiations anytime soon. With diplomatic engagement stalled and military tensions continuing on the Korean peninsula, the risk of miscalculation, misinterpretation, or accidental escalation remains dangerously high, especially given the absence of crisis communication mechanisms between North Korea and its neighbours. SIPRI flagged these developments as part of a broader trend of increasing nuclear risk in unstable regions. Why These Numbers Matter In 2025 What makes SIPRI's findings urgent is not just who holds the most weapons, but how global norms are eroding. The New START treaty between the US and Russia is nearing expiration, with no replacement in sight. China is rising, but unwilling to enter arms control negotiations. And advanced technologies, from AI to missile defence, are destabilising assumptions about deterrence. top videos View all Meanwhile, as the Israel-Iran war rages, one side is confirmed to be nuclear-armed and the other is feared to be nuclear-capable. With no regional arms control, no dialogue mechanisms, and rising disinformation, the threshold for escalation is lower than ever. As SIPRI researcher Matt Korda bluntly warns: 'Nuclear weapons do not guarantee security. They come with immense risks of escalation and catastrophic miscalculation, particularly when disinformation is rife, and may end up making a country's population less safe, not more." About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Israel-Iran tensions nuclear warheads Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 16, 2025, 13:19 IST News india India Holds Nuclear Edge Over Pakistan, Leaps Ahead In Missile Tech: Global Arms Report
Asia Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Asia Times
US plans nuclear buildup to check and deter China, Russia
With the New START treaty set to expire, the US Air Force is gearing up to surge warhead deployments to outmatch and deter nuclear rivals China and Russia. This month, Air & Space Forces Magazine reported that the US Air Force is prepared to expand its nuclear arsenal upon the expiration of the New START Treaty in February 2026, according to General Thomas Bussiere, head of US Air Force Global Strike Command. Speaking at an Atlantic Council forum, Bussiere said that, if directed, the service could increase warhead deployments across its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and bomber fleet. The nuclear arms control treaty, which has been in effect since 2011 and has limited the number of nuclear launchers in the US and Russia, will lapse following Russia's 2023 decision not to extend it. Efforts to modernize US deterrence capabilities, including the Sentinel ICBM, have faced scrutiny due to soaring costs and delays. Lawmakers pressed US Air Force officials to demonstrate urgency in correcting the troubled program, which is projected to cost nearly US$141 billion and fall years behind schedule. Simultaneously, the US Department of Defense (DOD) is assessing the viability of expanding the B-21 Raider fleet beyond the planned 100 aircraft to counter growing nuclear threats from China and North Korea. House Armed Services Committee members remain concerned about funding priorities and nuclear force readiness, while Secretary Troy Meink emphasized that strategic deterrence remains paramount for national defense. Bussiere hinted that future adversarial developments might necessitate a more robust nuclear force posture beyond existing plans. Al Mauroni mentions in a December 2023 War on the Rocks article that the US could increase its readily deployed nuclear warheads beyond New START Treaty limits by utilizing warheads from the nuclear stockpile's active hedge, which are those that are not operationally deployed. Mauroni points out that this effectively means the US could 'upload' additional nuclear warheads onto existing missiles and bombers without building new weapons. Hans Kristensen and other writers mention in a January 2025 article for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that while the US currently deploys 400 Minuteman III ICBMs, each armed with one warhead, the missiles can carry two or three warheads each. Kristensen and others state that the Trident II D5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) can carry eight warheads each, although they typically carry an average of four to five. In terms of bombers, a March 2025 US Congressional Research Service (CRS) report states that the US Air Force may require at least 200 stealth bombers to meet operational demands, particularly given the high tempo of Bomber Task Force missions and the reliance on Cold War-era platforms still in frontline use. Putting a number on the potential increase of US warheads, Keith Payne and Mark Schneider mention in an article this month for the National Institute of Public Policy that without New START limitations, the US Trident SLBM force could increase from an estimated 960 to 1,626 deployed warheads, while the Minuteman III ICBM force could increase from an estimated 400 to 1,000 deployed warheads, for a deployed missile force of 2,626 warheads. For bombers, Payne and Schneider estimate that the US could increase its stockpile of 528 air-launched cruise missiles (ALCM) to 716 to 784 warheads. However, the US nuclear triad is in dire need of modernization. Heather Williams and Lachlan MacKenzie mention in an April 2025 article for the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that the US Air Force is currently looking to extend the lifespan of its Minuteman III ICBMs, which are decades past retirement, while its Sentinel replacement is hounded by budget overruns and delays. Regarding the US's undersea nuclear deterrent, a March 2025 US CRS report notes that the US operates 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, which are approaching the end of their service lives. The report states that the SSBNs were initially designed for a 30-year service life but were later recertified for an additional 12 years. The report notes that the Ohio SSBNs will reach the end of their operational lives from 2027 to 2040. While the report states that the US is building 12 Columbia-class SSBNs to replace the Ohio-class fleet, the lead unit is facing a 12- to 16-month delay, which could impact the timely replacement of the Ohio-class fleet. While Williams and MacKenzie note that the B-21 bomber program is on track, a June 2024 US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report states that the Long Range Standoff (LRSO) program, intended to replace the AGM-86 ALCM aboard US bombers, faces risks in schedule and cost estimates due to tight timelines and overlapping testing phases. It also mentions that while the LRSO program has made design progress and early manufacturing preparations, challenges remain in software integration and meeting nuclear certification requirements, which could affect the missile's timely deployment and operational readiness. Williams and MacKenzie assert that the US defense industrial base and nuclear enterprise have atrophied since the end of the Cold War, with decades of underinvestment and consolidation eroding its nuclear defense-industrial base, leaving it ill-equipped for renewed great power competition. When New START expires next year, the US must ensure its nuclear deterrent effectively dissuades both China and Russia from nuclear aggression, including if the two US rivals act together. Meanwhile, Russia is deploying new systems, such as the Avangard and Poseidon, and China is expanding its ICBM silo fields and maturing a true nuclear triad—thereby intensifying the arms race that the US appears to be struggling to keep pace with. In an April 2023 Atlantic Council report, Keir Lieber and Daryl Press mention that in a nuclear tripolar world with China, Russia and the US all fielding large arsenals, the US must deter two peer rivals simultaneously, each capable of massive retaliation. However, they point out that the US's current counterforce doctrine, which eschews threats to enemy cities while targeting military assets, requires a large, survivable arsenal capable of retaliating against one adversary while still deterring the other, thereby escalating the risks of an arms race. In addition, they argue that a pure counterforce doctrine increases force demands without improving deterrence. Lieber and Press propose a hybrid US nuclear doctrine, with counterforce options for limited scenarios but threatening countervalue retaliation targeting cities, industrial assets and population centers in extreme ones. They assert a hybrid doctrine would more credibly deter China and Russia while avoiding an excessive force buildup. With New START set to expire in early 2026, the US's nuclear future hinges not just on how many warheads it can deploy but how credibly it can deter two giants bent on intensifying their nuclear threats.
