US Admiral Charles Richard has called for preparations for nuclear war with Russia and China, noting that “a very real prospect”, The Washington Times reports
In his view, there is a real possibility that a regional crisis with Russia or China could quickly escalate into a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons.
Washington, meanwhile, is preparing for the kind of conflict “it would rather see than the conflict it is likely to face”.
“We must adapt to today’s strategic environment by understanding the threats posed by our adversaries”, – the admiral said.
Richard noted that Russia has been “aggressively modernising” its nuclear forces with new missiles and other weapons for more than 10 years.
Combined with the “seizure” of Crimea, this demonstrates Russia’s willingness to engage in aggressive competition and ignore international norms, he added.