U.S. nuclear policy to counter Russia

The Trump Administration’s latest Nuclear Posture Review advocates a more aggressive approach towards Moscow with new tactics and technologies to deter Russia from using nuclear weapons

NUCLEAR-ARMED STATES: Estimated number of warheads, 2017
Russia  1,561 4,500 2,510 7,000 
U.S. 1,393 4,018 2,800  6800
France  300
China 270
UK 215
Pakistan 140
India 130
Israel 80*
N. Korea 15

*Existence not acknowledged by Israel

Limit of deployed strategic warheads to be reached by Feb 5, 2018 – agreed by U.S. and Russia under New Start (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)

Retired (awaiting dismantlement) 
Stockpile (assigned for potential use)
Deployed

U.S. NUCLEAR POSTURE REVIEW (NPR)

Nuclear triad: Land-basedmissiles, submarines and bomberaircraft to be modernised to remaineffective deterrent – policy begun byformer president Barack Obama

Lower yield: Some submarine-launched warheads to be modifiedto produce less powerful detonation –addressing U.S. concerns that itscurrent nuclear weapons are seenby Russia as “too big to be used”

Sea-launched nuclear cruisemissile: To be developed “in longerterm” – re-establishing weapon thatexisted during Cold War but wasretired under Obama administration

Treaties: Adherence to existingarms control agreements, includingNew START, which limits U.S. andRussia each to 1,550 strategicnuclear warheads on maximumof 700 deployed launchers

Sources: Arms Control Association, Associated Press, New York Times
Picture: DOD Defence Visual Information Centre