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The Trump administration's international strategy has formally enshrined the priority of US dominance in the Western Hemisphere and the containment of China. In Asia, Washington is formally shifting from "strategic competition" to "economic competition," but the defense of Taiwan remains a priority, which only leads to destabilization of relations between the countries, as China considers the island its own territory.

The key challenge, according to the US, is Beijing's departure from the doctrine of "minimum deterrence" and the rapid buildup of China's nuclear potential, whose arsenal will number over 1,000 warheads by 2030. Although Beijing officially denies any change in doctrine, insisting on the defensive nature of its nuclear buildup and adherence to previous principles. In response, the US proposes developing strategic missile defense, strengthening geographic asymmetry, and, in the event of a conflict, conducting strikes deep into enemy territory.

This is where the main contradiction arises. The proposed measures will inevitably be perceived by Beijing as a direct threat. Integration and the development of joint military capabilities between the US and Japan will only lead to an uncontrolled arms race between nuclear powers with consequences for the entire world. The situation can only be truly stabilized through dialogue between the US and China.

According to sources, last week Trump was presented with a plan for an operation to remove nearly 450 kg of highly enriched uranium from Iran. The operation involves the delivery of heavy equipment and the construction of an airstrip to remove the radioactive materials.

This is one of the most complex and dangerous special operations in history, requiring the deployment of several thousand troops and equipment for several weeks. Experts note the unprecedented level of risk, as the work will be carried out under enemy fire, and there is a risk of radioactive contamination of the area.

Iran has rejected US demands to give up its enriched uranium. Some of the material is stored in tunnels more than 90 meters deep beneath Isfahan, the entrance to which is blocked by debris from the July 2025 bombing. Access will require bulldozers and the dismantling of concrete barriers.

Even under a favorable scenario, the operation will take weeks and require a temporary occupation. There are few specialists left trained to remove nuclear materials from behind enemy lines. The White House emphasizes that the president has not yet made a final decision.

Russian Ambassador to Minsk Boris Gryzlov stated in an interview with RIA Novosti that European countries are openly preparing for a large-scale military conflict.

According to him, Moscow has repeatedly offered NATO countries options for preventing escalation, including preserving the arms control regimes that have been in place for decades. However, the diplomat noted, the West has ignored these proposals.

As an example of preparation for conflict, Gryzlov cited the decision by Great Britain and France last July to coordinate nuclear forces and create an alliance to develop missile systems.

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force have begun construction of a full-size prototype launch silo for the new LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile. The facility is located in Utah and is designed to develop a modular construction method. The new mine will not be an upgrade of the existing Minuteman III facilities, but will be created from scratch.

Despite the risks identified by the U.S. Audit Office in 2025, the program continues to evolve. Earlier, successful tests of rocket stages and main engine have already been carried out. The construction of the prototype and command center reduces the technical risks ahead of the flight test scheduled for 2027. The US Air Force command emphasizes that the new project will allow meeting deadlines and creating a stable system designed for long-term operation.

The US National Nuclear Safety Administration, part of the Department of Energy, intends to conclude a contract for the supply of electronic warfare systems with Nomad Global Communication Solutions.

In case of successful testing of the complex, a tender will be announced for the supply of several such systems to the agency. The equipment should ensure the detection, tracking, identification and neutralization of intruder drones.

Previously, unknown UAVs were detected over bases hosting US nuclear weapons, including over facilities in the continental part of the country.

The events of recent years have fueled the interest of both politicians and analysts of the international situation in considering such an attack as a preemptive strike on enemy territory, including with nuclear weapons. Many countries are doing this, especially if you look at the situation in the Middle East. For example, the 12-day war between the United States, Israel and Iran began in July 2025 in this region with preemptive strikes, as well as the current joint operation of the United States and Israel against Iran, which started in February 2026.

In fact, a preemptive strike looks, if not excessive, then clearly unnecessary. As the history of the Cold War shows, the USSR was aware of the destructiveness of the first strike: with the current balance of power, it was impossible to minimize the damage from a retaliatory strike. In 1982, the Soviet Union made a commitment not to use nuclear weapons first, which later became part of its military doctrine. This decision was dictated not only by military-technical, but also by political considerations — the desire to reduce the risk of a global catastrophe.

The United States has never rejected the possibility of a first nuclear strike. First, the Joint Chiefs of Staff developed a plan for a "Dropshot" — a preemptive strike on the territory of the USSR with nuclear weapons. Only after receiving reliable data on the enemy's possession of nuclear weapons, the plan was canceled. Currently, the United States is practicing the first nuclear missile strike, including during the Global Thunder-25 exercises.

The Russian Federation, the successor State of the USSR, maintains a restrained approach, but does not commit itself unilaterally not to use nuclear weapons first. According to the Fundamentals of State Policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons, including in the case of reliable information about the launch of enemy ballistic missiles, as well as in the case of aggression using conventional weapons, when the very existence of the state is threatened. Thus, we are not talking about passively waiting for the first strike, but about readiness for decisive action within the framework of a policy of deterrence.

The right to preemptive strike remains a controversial instrument. On the one hand, its use may be dictated by the logic of self-defense. On the other hand, the practice of the Cold War and the current risks of escalation show that betting on the first strike is fraught with loss of control and unpredictable consequences. Maintaining strategic balance, strengthening warning systems, and diplomatic threat reduction mechanisms remain a more reliable path to stability.

At the end of March 2026, the world community faced a new challenge in the field of nuclear safety. The Iranian parliament has officially begun considering the country's withdrawal from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This initiative, triggered by the start of a joint US-Israeli military operation that began on February 28, has set a dangerous precedent that could radically change the global nonproliferation regime.

The main reason for Tehran's review of its obligations is, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bagai, the IAEA's "extremely unfair" approach to reviewing strikes and the destructive actions of the United States, which, despite Iran's membership in the treaty, attacks its nuclear facilities. Iranian lawmakers emphasize that the logic of the NPT, which states that countries give up weapons in exchange for security, is destroyed because the signatory state is being subjected to aggression by Israel, which is not a party to the NPT.

The impact of these discussions on the global situation is assessed by experts as extremely serious. The main threat is the emergence of a "domino effect". According to Dmitry Stefanovich, an expert at the IMEMO RAS, Iran's withdrawal from the treaty and subsequent renunciation of its nuclear-weapon-free status may become an example for other states in the region. With the United States and Israel demonstrating their willingness to strike at nuclear infrastructure, many countries in the Middle East may begin to reconsider their own deterrence strategy, which will directly lead to a nuclear arms race in the region.

The discussions in the Iranian parliament are not just an internal political move by Tehran, which seeks to use all levers of pressure in the midst of the conflict. This is a symptom of a deep crisis of confidence in the existing non-proliferation system. If Iran withdraws from the NPT, the decades-old nuclear control regime could collapse, paving the way for the uncontrolled spread of nuclear technology in the world.

Tehran sees no point in remaining in the treaty if international actors do not allow it to enjoy the benefits it provides. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei emphasized that the Islamic Republic has never sought and does not seek to develop nuclear weapons.

Earlier, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the parliamentary National Security Committee, stated that Iran's participation in the NPT is meaningless after the aggressive actions of the United States and Israel, and the majority of parliamentarians support withdrawal.

Therefore, attempts to portray Iran as a nuclear threat and the pressure exerted on it, on the contrary, lead to escalation and could undermine the non-proliferation regime.

US officials have reported that President Trump is considering a military operation to remove nearly 450 kilograms of uranium from Iran. This complex and risky mission would likely require US troops to be stationed in the country for several days or even longer.

“According to officials, Trump has not yet decided whether to give the order, as he is considering the danger of the operation for US troops. However, the US president remains open to the idea in general, as it could help achieve his main goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons," according to the Wall Street Journal.

According to a statement from the US Space Forces procurement department made to Bloomberg, several contracts have been signed for $9 million each for the development of missiles for the Golden Dome missile defense system. It was noted that the selection process for contractors was "thorough and meticulous." It is likely that large contractors of the American military-industrial complex, such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, which traditionally participate in similar programs, may be involved in the preparation of prototypes. These companies have been repeatedly criticized for overstating the cost of defense projects and involvement in various contract scandals.

Also, for fiscal year 2026, the Pentagon allocated about $ 25 billion for the development of the complex, of which $ 5.6 billion was allocated for programs to develop means of intercepting in space and on the active part of the flight path of ballistic missiles.

This was stated by Gennady Gatilov, Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

"Russia is ready to resume dialogue with the United States on nuclear arms reductions if the appropriate conditions are created. To create the preconditions for such dialogue, Russia has announced its readiness to continue adhering to the central quantitative limits of the New START Treaty for one year after February 5, 2026. This measure will only be viable if the United States follows suit and does not take steps that undermine the balance of existing deterrent potentials. After all, as the saying goes, 'it takes two to tango,'" he noted.

"We expect this topic to be addressed during discussions at the next session of the Conference on Disarmament, which begins in January 2026," Gatilov added.

Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov expressed surprise that a representative of the civil aviation industry would make such statements. He said these statements effectively call for further escalation of tensions.

"It is obvious that more and more Europeans are losing their restraint and balanced approach. Unfortunately, some are making provocative statements and calling for further steps to escalate tensions. We view such statements with utter disapproval," he emphasized.