Pentagon official warns of nuclear deterrence crisis

A senior Pentagon official has publicly declared the United States is in a nuclear deterrence crisis. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical and Biological Defense Robert Kadlec told a US Senate hearing that the need to simultaneously deter Russia and China, alongside North Korea's growing capabilities, constitutes a present danger. Kadlec stated, "This is not a hypothetical problem of the future. This is a crisis unfolding right now," adding that the nation has entered a "new, more dangerous era." The stark assessment highlights the strategic pressure on US nuclear forces and policy under the current administration.