The U.S. Defense Department’s policy chief is preparing a nuclear strategy that could involve using shorter-range tactical weapons in case of a regional war with China or Russia, sources told NBC News.

Tactical nuclear weapons are generally designed for shorter-range battlefield use than strategic intercontinental systems, although some can carry yields comparable to larger strategic weapons. The proposals by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s head of policy, are directed at potential threats or attacks on U.S. allies by China or Russia, according to people familiar with the plans.

“Our view is that we need credible nuclear options,” a senior Defense Department official said, adding the strategy expands the president’s options “by providing him with realistic and credible options, and therefore strengthens deterrence.”

The Pentagon strategy informs nuclear options for the Commander-in-Chief during crises. The new draft, which is classified, changes the decades-long American approach to nuclear weapons. No country has used nuclear weapons since the end of World War II. But preparations for a potential nuclear contingency have silently continued within the government.

The new policy’s proponents argue that the strategy would offer confidence to U.S. allies across the world who rely on American “deterrence,” should they ever be targeted by China or Russia.

Beyond its military implications, the draft strategy reflects a fundamental shift in U.S. deterrence planning as Washington prepares for an era of simultaneous strategic competition with both China and Russia. By emphasizing credible tactical nuclear response options, the Pentagon aims to strengthen extended deterrence for allies while complicating the calculations of potential adversaries.
However, lowering the threshold for discussing limited nuclear use also risks accelerating an arms race, increasing crisis instability, and raising the possibility that regional conflicts could escalate into a broader nuclear confrontation. The proposal illustrates how strategic competition is increasingly being defined not only by conventional military power, but also by the credibility, flexibility, and survivability of nuclear deterrence.