Elbridge Colby, the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, is reported to be behind a change in US nuclear strategy that would place greater emphasis on tactical nuclear weapons, a change that critics say would make them more likely to be used.
Colby discussed his policy at U.S. Strategic Command’s 2026 Deterrence Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska on Wednesday. The strategy is designed to address scenarios in which US allies come under attack from Russia or China in a regional conflict, The Telegraph reported, citing an NBC story, which cited sources “familiar with the plans.”
A senior US Defense Department official told NBC: “Our view is that we need credible nuclear options.” The strategy would not restrict Donald Trump’s choices but instead “expand the president’s option space by providing him with realistic and credible options and therefore strengthen deterrence,” the official said.
In Colby’s view, a strategic nuclear response is not a “credible” option in a regional “conflict.” The dangerous flaw in that approach is that the use of a tactical nuclear weapon in such a scenario is unlikely to stay “regional,” or remain “limited.”
Meanwhile, reports emerged at the same time that China has refused to offer Colby an invitation to visit Beijing despite his entreaties over many months.
According to Politico, Colby has been asking Defense Department officials to raise his request in meetings with Chinese counterparts, according to two people familiar with the efforts.
So far, that’s been unsuccessful. “His number one goal right now is to speak at China’s National Defense University, and he has everyone push it in meetings,” one of the people said. “He’s obsessed.”
China is reportedly upset about an $11 billion arms sale to Taiwan that the Trump Administration approved in December but the Chinese are clearly also not pleased with U.S. efforts to contain China within the first island chain, an effort which also includes Japan and the Philippines on the U.S. side. That is not mentioned by Politico, however.
