Washington, March 19: Senior defense officials have informed lawmakers that the United States faces an “unprecedented challenge” in deterring two nuclear powers simultaneously. Military leaders have raised alarms about escalating threats from China and Russia in nuclear, missile, and space domains.
During a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence and Chemical and Biological Defense Robert Cadlack stated that U.S. strategy has reached “a critical turning point.”
Cadlack emphasized, “China’s strategic nuclear expansion means we are now facing the unprecedented challenge of deterring two nuclear powers at once. This is not a distant problem; it is the central challenge of our defense strategy today.”
He noted that China is engaged in “the fastest and most opaque nuclear expansion in its history,” while Russia still possesses “the world’s largest nuclear arsenal” and continues to rely on its nuclear forces for coercion.
Cadlack urged that the U.S. must be prepared for the “real possibility of coordinated or opportunistic aggression in multiple domains.” He argued that Washington does not need to maintain “a warhead-for-warhead” parity with its adversaries but must possess the capability to impose “unacceptable costs on both adversaries in any scenario.”
He called for full funding and expedited development of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, Columbia-class submarines, B-21 bombers, and long-range stand-off cruise missiles.
Cadlack also advocated for theater-range nuclear options, citing the SLCM-N as a crucial tool for controlling the situation in conflicts with similarly powered adversaries.
The hearing also highlighted growing concerns about space. U.S. Space Command Commander General Stephen Whiting stated that American military operations are increasingly reliant on space systems and warned that adversaries are rapidly advancing to challenge them.
Whiting remarked, “Make no mistake, our adversaries are advancing at a dangerous pace and are developing and deploying capabilities to deny us the use of space.”
He pointed out that China has integrated space-based effects into its military forces and is developing weapons specifically designed to defeat and destroy U.S. satellites.
Regarding Russia, he noted that it continues to demonstrate capabilities that disrupt U.S. assets, including a “potential plan to deploy nuclear weapons in orbit.”
Mark Berkowitz, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, supported President Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome for America” initiative, describing it as “a comprehensive next-generation defense system against the most devastating threats facing the United States.”
Berkowitz stated, “The Golden Dome will protect our country, citizens, critical infrastructure, and retaliatory capabilities.” He characterized it as a necessary and practical response to the rising threats from ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons, and advanced cruise missiles.
Democrats voiced strong objections to both the program and the broader strategic approach. Ranking member Seth Moulton warned that America needs “strength, not chaos,” and cautioned against further “promoting an arms race.”
General Gregory Guilo, head of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD, noted that commanders are adapting to the changing threat environment to protect the homeland.
He revealed that in January 2026, U.S. NorthCom activated Joint Task Force Gold, which will operate under the “Golden Dome for America” initiative for future multi-layered defense systems.
Admiral Richard Correll, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, stated that America is undergoing “this critical two-generation phase of modernization and rebuilding.”
He highlighted the strategic challenge of “deterring multiple nuclear adversaries while keeping pace with rapid technological changes.”
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