The U.S. may decide to increase the number of deployed nuclear warheads.
According to Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy Vipin Narang, "in the absence of a change in the nuclear orbit" of China, North Korea, and Russia, "we may reach a point where we need to change the scale or positioning of our current deployed forces."
According to a report by the Russian news agency TASS on August 2nd, Vipin Narang, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, stated that Washington could increase the number of deployed nuclear warheads, but this decision rests with the president.
According to US officials, "in the absence of a change in the nuclear trajectory" of China, North Korea, and Russia, "we may reach a point where we need to change the scale or positioning of our current deployed forces."
"There is no need to increase stockpiles at the moment, but adjustments to the amount of deployed capacity may be necessary if our adversaries continue on their current path," he stated at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (an unaccredited think tank in Russia).
Narang added that "only the President can make that decision" and that the move means "he or she has concluded that such changes are necessary to deter adversaries, protect the United States, and fulfill our commitments to our allies and partners."
He also said, referring to U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, that Washington doesn't need to compare the number of warheads with those of its competitors or outmaneuver their "total combined force" to deter them.
"In fact, the opposite is true: we are committed to deploying only what is necessary to reliably deter adversaries and protect the American people and our allies and partners," Narang said.