US Pentagon drafts new nuclear strategy emphasizing tactical weapons against China and Russia

The United States Department of Defense is drafting a revised nuclear doctrine that would give the president a broader set of response options in a regional conflict with China or Russia. Senior Pentagon policy official Elbridge Colby is leading the classified review, which shifts emphasis toward the possible use of shorter‑range tactical nuclear weapons rather than the traditional strategic arsenal. The change is intended to deter both peers by showing readiness to employ limited nuclear strikes while avoiding escalation to full‑scale nuclear war.

The draft, reported by NBC News, comes as Washington confronts what officials call the “two‑peer problem,” the challenge of deterring both Beijing and Moscow simultaneously. The strategy is slated for presentation at a closed‑door event at US Strategic Command in Nebraska. It is being considered alongside broader moves such as the expiration of the New START treaty and discussions of additional nuclear deployments and testing.