US considers deploying nuclear weapons to allies in the Indo-Pacific over China threat

The Pentagon’s newly-declassified nuclear posture outlines plans to send nuclear weapons to Indo-Pacific allies, including Australia, Japan, and South Korea.

United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin said the “historic” AUKUS agreement was central to meeting the rising threat of China, which includes sending nuclear weapons to allies in the Indo-Pacific.

Speaking at the Pentagon, Mr Austin said the People’s Republic of China is the only country with “both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly the power to do so”.

“The cost of aggression against the United States, our allies and partners, far outweigh any conceivable gains,” Mr Austin said to release the unclassified document, including a Nuclear Posture Review.

“We’ve updated our posture in the Indo-Pacific to make it more survivable against aggression, and with AUKUS we’re putting campaigning into action by linking our cutting edge capabilities with robust military exercises alongside our allies.”

Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin outlined the 2022 National Defence Strategy and combating Chinese aggression. Picture: AFP

Under the headline “Strong and Credible Nuclear Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific Region”, the newly-declassified strategy outlines the Pentagon’s plan to send massive amounts of firepower to the region.

“Toward that end, we will work with Allies and partners to ensure an effective mix of capabilities, concepts, deployments, exercises, and tailored options to deter and, if necessary, respond to coercion and aggression,” the 2022 Defence Strategy says.

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“The United States will continue to field flexible nuclear forces suited to deterring regional nuclear conflict, including the capability to forward deploy strategic bombers, dual-capable fighter aircraft, and nuclear weapons to the region and globally.”

Mr Austin’s public release of nuclear posture and missile defence review comes after the White House said earlier this year that China represented “most consequential geopolitical challenge” of the modern era, which risked turning into a new Cold War.

He said integrating the US’s national defence, nuclear posture review, and missile defence strategy – all three together for the first time – means working more closely with allies to deter aggression globally.

“In the Indo-Pacific, you see the power of partnership with the historic AUKUS agreement. With out trilateral co-operation with Japan and Korea. And with our many multinational exercises to increase readiness and interoperability,” Mr Austin said.

“Our nuclear capabilities remains our ultimate backstop for our strategic deterrence. And that’s why we’re committed to modernising all three legs of our nuclear triad,” he added.

“We’re building and exercising the forces we’ll need in a crisis or conflict.”

Originally published as US considers deploying nuclear weapons to allies in the Indo-Pacific over China threat