RT reported on November 24 that in a statement on November 21, the Pentagon said that "multiple nuclear peer competitors challenge the security of the United States and its allies and partners," adding that those countries are developing and modernizing their nuclear arsenals.
In this situation, Mr. Richard Johnson - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense of the US - specifically named Russia and China, and noted that the US may need to adjust the Nuclear Posture Review to maintain its nuclear deterrent. However, he said, the current nuclear modernization efforts may not be enough.
To address those concerns, the Pentagon “has taken steps to deploy capabilities that enhance nuclear deterrence and flexibility,” Johnson said.
Key steps include developing the B61-13 gravity bomb and increasing the readiness of the nuclear-powered and armed Ohio-class submarines.
The Pentagon announced the development of a new variant of the B61 bomb last October, saying it would replace several older versions and give the US "additional options against a number of hard-to-hit, large-area military targets."
Meanwhile, Washington stressed that the B61-13 deployment was "not in response to any current event" and would not increase its overall nuclear arsenal.
Ohio-class submarines are a key element of the US nuclear triad and are designed specifically for nuclear deterrence. They can be equipped with Trident missiles with a range of up to 12,000 km.
Mr Johnson's comments came after President Vladimir Putin signed an order amending Russia's nuclear doctrine.
The doctrine lists 10 threats that must be countered by nuclear deterrence, ranging from nuclear arsenals possessed by hostile parties to the uncontrolled proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The document states that an attack on Russia and/or its allies by a single member of a bloc, including non-nuclear members, would be considered an attack by the entire bloc. The same applies when a country is not formally part of a military organization backed by a nuclear power.
President Putin signed the decree on November 19 as the United States and several Western countries allowed Ukraine to use foreign-made long-range weapons to strike deep into Russia, despite Moscow's warnings that this would escalate the conflict and lead to NATO's direct involvement in the fighting.
Earlier this week, Russia attacked Ukraine with its latest Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic missile, in response to Kiev's cross-border attacks using the US-made ATACMS and HIMARS missile systems, as well as the British-made Storm Shadow missile.