Rubio Warns China’s ‘Rapid’ Nuclear Buildup Is Making U.S. ‘Less Safe’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling for a dramatic shift in nuclear arms policy following the expiration of the New START Treaty, warning that China’s accelerated weapons buildup leaves the United States increasingly vulnerable. In a statement Friday, Rubio said any future treaty must address the new geopolitical landscape — one in which both China and Russia pose nuclear threats.
“A treaty requires at least two parties, and the choice before the United States was to bind itself unilaterally or to recognize that a new era requires a new approach,” Rubio said. “Not the same old START, but something new.”
According to Rubio, China’s nuclear stockpile has surged from just over 200 warheads in 2020 to nearly 600 today. He cited projections that place China’s arsenal at over 1,000 warheads by 2030. He argued that any future arms control agreement must include Beijing, or it would be “obsolete on arrival.”
“China’s rapid and opaque expansion of its nuclear arsenal since New START entered into force has rendered past models of arms control…obsolete,” Rubio warned. He also raised concerns about alleged Chinese nuclear tests, echoing claims made by Under Secretary Thomas DiNanno about decoupling techniques used to mask explosive testing.
President Donald Trump, who has pushed for a more comprehensive arms deal, criticized the New START extension on Truth Social, calling it “a badly negotiated deal” from the Obama era. Trump has long expressed skepticism about China’s transparency, and his administration officials continue to push for more aggressive verification mechanisms.
Rubio also took aim at Russia, which said in 2023 that it would stop recognizing the New START Treaty. While Moscow has claimed it would continue to respect the treaty’s warhead limits, Rubio pointed out the Kremlin has taken steps to modernize and expand its own arsenal.
“Russia and China should not expect the United States to stand still while they shirk their obligations and expand their nuclear forces,” Rubio wrote. “We will maintain a robust, credible, and modernized nuclear deterrent.”
The State Department is expected to brief Congress on options for a future framework that could incorporate both adversaries. Trump administration officials have indicated that a more flexible, multilateral arrangement is likely the best path forward.
Despite advocating for a stronger deterrent, Rubio concluded by expressing support for the long-term goal of global disarmament. “We will do so while pursuing all avenues to fulfill the President’s genuine desire for a world with fewer of these awful weapons,” he said.