REUTERS - President-elect
Donald Trump called for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities
on Thursday, in a tweet that alarmed nonproliferation
experts who said that a
boost to the U.S. arsenal could fuel global tensions.
In his Twitter
post, Trump said, "The United States must greatly strengthen and expand
its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses
regarding nukes," but gave no further details.
It was not
clear what prompted his comment. However, earlier on Thursday, Russian
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia needed to "strengthen the
military potential of strategic nuclear forces."
Asked about
the tweet, Trump spokesman Jason Miller later said Trump was "referring to
the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it -
particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue
regimes."
Trump, who
takes office on Jan. 20, also has "emphasized the need to improve and
modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through
strength," spokesman Jason Miller said.
Miller told
Reuters that Trump was not advocating the use of nuclear weapons, and said
Trump's comments were not meant to be read as a new policy proposal.
Experts
wondered whether Trump's brief tweet meant he wanted to breach limits imposed
on U.S. strategic weapons and delivery systems by the 2011 New START treaty
with Russia - or planned to expand the non-deployed stockpile.
"It is
completely irresponsible for the president-elect or the president to make
changes to U.S. nuclear policy in 140 characters and without understanding the
implications of statements like ‘expand the capacity,’" said Daryl
Kimball, the executive director of the Arms Control Association, a leading
proponent of arms control based in Washington.
"He must
have leaders around the world trying to guess what he means," Kimball said
in an interview. "This is bush league."
REUTERS
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