U.S. Nuclear Policy: Biden Must Not Weaken Resolve

Russia is building a massive invasion force on Ukraine’s border, China is rehearsing air strikes on Taiwan, and both Moscow and Beijing are racing to construct newer and larger nuclear arsenals. Nuclear weapons are central to their revisionist military strategies. Maintaining a strong deterrent and stronger alliances must continue to be central to ours.

Consequently, it is concerning that in the face of not one, but two major nuclear threats, the Biden administration is considering adopting policies that explicitly de-emphasize the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense policy. Any change in U.S. nuclear declaratory policy, the public articulation of the circumstances in which it would employ nuclear weapons, especially now as the Russian army amasses on the Ukrainian border, sends the worst possible signal both to Vladimir Putin and to U.S. allies and partners.

About the Author

Mike Gallagher

Mr. Gallagher represents Wisconsin’s eighth district in Congress, where he is the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. As a U.S. Marine Corps officer, he served seven years on active duty, including two deployments to Iraq.

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Russia is building a massive invasion force on Ukraine’s border, China is rehearsing air strikes on Taiwan, and both Moscow and Beijing are racing to construct newer and larger nuclear arsenals. Nuclear weapons are central to their revisionist military strategies. Maintaining a strong deterrent and stronger alliances must continue to be central to ours.

Consequently, it is concerning that in the face of not one, but two major nuclear threats, the Biden administration is considering adopting policies that explicitly de-emphasize the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense policy. Any change in U.S. nuclear declaratory policy, the public articulation of the circumstances in which it would employ nuclear weapons, especially now as the Russian army amasses on the Ukrainian border, sends the worst possible signal both to Vladimir Putin and to U.S. allies and partners.

About the Author

Mike Gallagher

Mr. Gallagher represents Wisconsin’s eighth district in Congress, where he is the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee and a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. As a U.S. Marine Corps officer, he served seven years on active duty, including two deployments to Iraq.