The Pentagon is drafting a new nuclear strategy that places greater emphasis on the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons in the event of a regional war with China or Russia, NBC News reports, citing five sources familiar with the plan.
According to the report, the classified document is being prepared by the head of policy at the US Department of Defense and will define the nuclear options that will be available to the president of the United States during major crises.
The sources said the new strategy aims to prepare scenarios for conflicts that would not necessarily escalate into a global nuclear war, but could erupt in the Indo-Pacific region or in Europe, in the event of a confrontation with Russia over NATO.
Current American doctrine already considers China's nuclear arsenal expansion and Russia's threat to Europe as top security priorities.
However, according to NBC News, the new draft goes a step further, considering specific responses with tactical nuclear weapons, which have a shorter range and more limited power compared to strategic weapons.
The sources did not provide details on the full content of the strategy, which remains classified, but said it will serve as a guide for the US president's decision-making in the event of future crises.