STRATCOM Commander Makes Case for Nuclear Modernization
USNI News ^ | 11/20/24 | John Grady
Posted on 11/24/2024 1:44:06 AM PST by EBH
The U.S. nuclear triad must be modernized to keep pace with changing threats in the future, the nation’s senior officer in charge of strategic forces said on Tuesday.
Air Force Gen. Anthony Cotton, speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event, added “for the United States nuclear deterrence is baseline strategy” stopping adversaries from crossing thresholds because they know American capability to respond.
China, being a nuclear power and rapidly expanding its arsenal, changes the strategic equation from the Cold War with the Soviet Union, he said. Where there was little economic interaction between Moscow and Washington in the Cold War, Beijing is a major trading partner with the United States.
That “makes the whole dynamic a little different.” Later in the session, Cotton, Strategic Command’s commander, asked rhetorically, “what do we do to prevent conflict” before it can escalate to nuclear war.
“I hate the term Cold War II” to describe today’s strategic environment,” he said. “The adversary you’re talking about is a peer or a near-peer competitor].”
In the discussion, he noted Russia’s latest shift in nuclear doctrine. The New York Times reports the new doctrine allows Moscow to use nuclear weapons if an attack poses a “critical threat” to sovereignty or territorial integrity.
The U.S. nuclear triad must be modernized to keep pace with changing threats in the future, the nation’s senior officer in charge of strategic forces said on Tuesday.
Air Force Gen. Anthony Cotton, speaking at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event, added “for the United States nuclear deterrence is baseline strategy” stopping adversaries from crossing thresholds because they know American capability to respond.
China, being a nuclear power and rapidly expanding its arsenal, changes the strategic equation from the Cold War with the Soviet Union, he said. Where there was little economic interaction between Moscow and Washington in the Cold War, Beijing is a major trading partner with the United States.
That “makes the whole dynamic a little different.” Later in the session, Cotton, Strategic Command’s commander, asked rhetorically, “what do we do to prevent conflict” before it can escalate to nuclear war.
“I hate the term Cold War II” to describe today’s strategic environment,” he said. “The adversary you’re talking about is a peer or a near-peer competitor].”
In the discussion, he noted Russia’s latest shift in nuclear doctrine. The New York Times reports the new doctrine allows Moscow to use nuclear weapons if an attack poses a “critical threat” to sovereignty or territorial integrity.
Cmdr. Mike Kessler, commanding officer of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN-743) blue crew, left, speaks with Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander, U.S. Strategic Command, during a routine visit and ship tour, June 3, 2024. US Navy Photo The announcement came a few days after President Joe Biden permitted Ukraine to fire longer-range Army Tactical Missile System weapons [ATACMS] into Russian territory.
Cotton also cited North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons and Iran’s continuing investments in building its own arsenal as changing the situation now.
“I have a legacy system” of manned bombers, land- and sea-based missiles and a communications system created for the Soviet threat.
He said several times the nuclear triad remains “safe, secure and effective,” as well its communications; but all must be modernized.
“It’s really hard to convince folks [that] you need to modernize” when the systems work. “I’m sorry we didn’t think about [modernization of the triad and communications system] 30 years ago, so here we are.”
He said in line with the Nuclear Posture Review, Strategic Command developed a road map of immediate goals, near-term [within five years] and future with input and buy-in from combatant commanders.
Cotton added artificial intelligence advances are incorporated in the planning “to take advantage of efficiencies,” not replace humans in decision-making.
“I need to have connectivity to the president at all times” to know when to shoot, that the order is authorized and when to stop. He also said “connectivity” not only with the president but regional combatant commanders was essential to handle future crises. “The program of record has to happen.” Cotton added, “we started talking about nuclear modernization in 2010, but the world has changed since then.”
Looking into the future, he said, “we need on ramps and off ramps” in the modernization program that can adjust to changing threats over time.
Cotton estimated the cost of the nuclear enterprise modernization program at 4 percent of the defense budget, but that cost extends out for decades. He paraphrased former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, “we can afford survival.”
When asked whether allies like Korea and Japan still believe in the U.S. providing “extended deterrence,” Cotton mentioned constant engagement reassures them that “we’ll be there.” He cited port calls at Busan by ballistic missile and guided missile submarines and air exercises with Korean fighters and B-52s as examples of this engagement.
“Gone are the days of thinking [North Korean attack] will never happen,” Cotton said.
TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: nukes; readiness; stratcom
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“for the United States nuclear deterrence is baseline strategy” stopping adversaries from crossing thresholds because they know American capability to respond.
China, being a nuclear power and rapidly expanding its arsenal, changes the strategic equation from the Cold War with the Soviet Union, he said. Where there was little economic interaction between Moscow and Washington in the Cold War, Beijing is a major trading partner with the United States.
That “makes the whole dynamic a little different.”
1 posted on 11/24/2024 1:44:06 AM PST by EBH
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