Admiral Warns of Unprecedented Nuclear Risks
News and analysis:
The admiral nominated to lead U.S. Strategic Command has expressed serious concerns regarding the escalating nuclear threats posed by China and other adversaries, labeling them as “unprecedented”.
Vice Adm. Richard A. Correll, currently serving as deputy commander at Stratcom, alerted Congress about China’s swift expansion of its nuclear arsenal, emphasizing the critical need for the United States to modernize its aging nuclear capabilities.
“China’s ambitious expansion, modernization, and diversification of its nuclear forces has heightened the need for a fully modernized, flexible, full-spectrum strategic deterrence force,” Adm. Correll stated in written responses to inquiries from the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The Chinese military is focused on developing advanced nuclear missiles, bombers, and submarines aimed at deterring or defeating any U.S. intervention in the Indo-Pacific region.
“China believes these new capabilities offset existing U.S. and allies’ missile defense systems, which may affect their nuclear strike calculus, especially if state survival is at risk,” he noted.
Adm. Correll mentioned that Strategic Command is revising its strategies to integrate both nuclear and non-nuclear capabilities across all warfare domains.
“This will convey to China that the United States will not be deterred from defending our interests or those of our allies and partners,” he added.
The U.S. is currently undertaking significant modernization efforts for its aging nuclear forces with new systems such as Sentinel ground-based missiles and Columbia-class submarines.
A credible nuclear force structure must provide both homeland and regional deterrence while combining various weapons systems to impose costs on adversaries effectively.
Adm. Correll highlighted that while modernization programs are underway, they face delays due to a lack of recent investment in supporting infrastructure over nearly four decades.
