The modernization of the US nuclear triad is no longer an option but a necessity. This is the warning launched by Air Force General Anthony J. Cotton (photo below), commander of the US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), speaking yesterday at the McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington. According to Cotton, the current strategic context is without precedent and calls for a sharp acceleration in the upgrade of nuclear systems and related command and control mechanisms.
We have neglected modernization for too long, counting on a peace dividend that has never materialized., the general declared. We now face unprecedented challenges and must ensure that our nuclear deterrence remains credible and sustainable..
For the commander of STRATCOM, Any further delay will have devastating knock-on effects, undermining the United States' ability to respond to emerging scenarios.
China poses the main challenge to the United States in the context of nuclear deterrence. Beijing is carrying out an unprecedented military buildup, warned Cotton. Its investments in dual-use military-civilian shipyards and the development of nuclear launch platforms clearly demonstrate their desire to become a global military superpower..
One of the most worrying aspects of this expansion is Beijing's stated goal: Taiwan. China has made clear its intention to take control of Taiwan by 2027, the general recalled.
Taiwan represents a critical point for the stability of the Indo-Pacific and its fate could directly affect global balances.
China's possible annexation of Taiwan would have immense strategic implications, consolidating Beijing's power in the region and reducing the freedom of maneuver for the United States and its allies.
Faced with this situation, Cotton stressed the importance of modernizing the three pillars of the US nuclear triad:
- The intercontinental ballistic missile Sentinel, which will replace the current one Minuteman III, ensuring greater accuracy and resistance to enemy countermeasures.
- The class submarine Columbia, the future linchpin of American strategic maritime deterrence.
- The B-21 bomber Raider, designed to operate in non-permissive environments and ensure long-range strike capability.
Added to these is the update of the B-52, which will be equipped with new engines, advanced radar and latest-generation electronic systems.
He concluded by stressing that the window of opportunity for production and modernization is closing and that is fundamental act now to avoid missing the opportunity to intervene in the future.
Photo: US Air Force / US DoD
