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US fully prepared to counter any nuclear threat: Pentagon

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis listens to the national anthem of the United States during a ceremony at the Pentagon on February 1, 2018 in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by AFP)

The United States military says it is fully prepared to defend the country against any nuclear threat, after Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed a new nuclear weapon which he said makes nuclear defense systems "useless."

“We’re not surprised by the statement, and the American people should rest assured that we are fully prepared,” Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters on Thursday after the announcement by Putin.

“We need to ensure we have a credible nuclear deterrent, and we are confident that we are prepared to defend this nation no matter what,” she added.

Delivering his annual state of the nation speech in Moscow earlier in the day, Putin expressed concerns about the new US nuclear posture which he said has lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons.

The new American policy allows the use of nuclear weapons "in response to a conventional attack or even a cyberthreat," the Russian president said, adding, "Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons only in response to a nuclear attack or an attack with other weapons of mass destruction against her or her allies, or a conventional attack against us that threatens the very existence of the state."

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Federal Assembly at Moscow's Manezh exhibition center on March 01, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

Putin also said that Russia had tested a number of new advanced strategic weapons, which could not be intercepted, saying they would render US-made defense missile systems "useless."

He also said that the West has ignored Russia but should “listen to us now.”

"Any use of nuclear weapons against Russia or its allies … any kind of attack … will be regarded as a nuclear attack against Russia, and in response we will take action instantaneously no matter what the consequences are," he said.

Last month, the Pentagon unveiled its Nuclear Posture Review, which calls for revamping US nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield nuclear weapons to deter Russia and China.

The new nuclear arms policy effectively ends Obama-era efforts to reduce the size and scope of the US arsenal and minimize the role of nuclear weapons in defense planning.

Putin said the new US policy has “raised concerns in Russia.”

The Pentagon spokeswoman said the need for low-yield nuclear weapons “is because of many of the things Russia has done.”


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