The air, land and sea-based components of the US nuclear arsenal
美国的陆海空核武装备
are all expected to reach the end of their use in the next decade.
预计将在未来十年内报废。
Experts say that if the United States does not act now to modernize its inventory,
专家说如果美国现在不进行现代化发展,
the whole point of that arsenal deterring other nations from using their nuclear weapons could be in jeopardy.
那么阻止其他国家使用核武器的目标将遭受威胁。
There is this notion that United States actions will cost an arms race
有一种观点认为,美国的行动将引发军备竞赛,
but I think arms race is already going on except right now the United States is not racing.
但我认为军备竞赛已经开始,只不过现在美国还没参赛。
Analysts say Russia and China have about a two decade head start on updating their nuclear weapons programs.
分析人士说,中俄早在二十年前就有了更新核武器计划。
Also looming large, the threat of North Korea and Iran developing nuclear weapons.
朝鲜和伊朗发展核武器的威胁也日益迫近。
To counter this changing environment, the Pentagon is calling for two additions to the US nuclear arsenal.
为了应对这种不断变化的环境,五角大楼要求美国核武库增加两个项目。
One brings back the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile, a capability the US maintained during the Cold War.
一个是海上核巡航导弹,冷战时期美国就具备了这样的能力。
The other adds a low-yield or less powerful submarine-launched ballistic missile.
另一个是低产量,威力较小的潜艇弹道导弹。
This addition would impede any ideas America's strongest nuclear adversary Russia
它将阻碍美国核劲敌俄罗斯的任何想法,
might have about using its own low-yield weapons to get its way in a small conflict.
俄罗斯可能会使用自己的低产量武器在一场小冲突中获取胜利。
I would prefer that we go back to the path we were on ten years ago,
我希望我们回到十年前的到路上去,
both sides reducing the role of nuclear weapons and their foreign policies.
双方都能选择一条减少核武器和转变外交政策的道路上。
I just don't think that Russia is really giving us that choice right now
但我认为俄罗斯并不见得能给我们这样的选择,
so temporarily I think we have to be a little bit more assertive than I would even prefer.
所以暂时我们还需要更加坚定。
The Obama Administration's Posture Review in 2010
2010年,奥巴马政府的《核态势审议报告》
struck a delicate balance between the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons while still maintaining a safe and effective arsenal.
是在两者之间掌握平衡,既要实现无核世界这一终极目标,也要保证核武器的安全和有效。
The Trump Administration's version focuses mostly on that second point, maintaining American's arsenal, putting arms control in the back seat.
特朗普政府主要集中在第二点维持军火库上,而不是军控。
Carla Babb, VOA News, the Pentagon.
VOA新闻,卡拉·巴伯五角大楼报道。