MOSCOW\/PALM BEACH: Presi\u00addent-elect Donald Trump on Friday abruptly called for the United States to \u201cgreatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability\u201d until the rest of the world \u201ccomes to its senses\u201d regarding nuclear weapons.
\nTrump made the statement on Twitter and did not expand on the actions he wants the US to take or on the issues he sees around the world. His comments came one day after meeting with incoming White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.
\nTrump\u2019s transition website says he \u201crecognises the uniquely catastrophic threats posed by nuclear weapons and cyberattacks,\u201d adding that he will modernise the nuclear arsenal \u201cto ensure it continues to be an effective deterrent.\u201d Beyond that, he has offered few specifics, either as a candidate or during the transition.
\nTrump\u2019s vanquished campaign rival Hillary Clinton repeatedly cast the Republican as too erratic and unpredictable to have control of the nation\u2019s nuclear arsenal. Ten former nuclear missile launch operators also wrote that Trump lacks the temperament, judgement and diplomatic skill to avoid nuclear war.
\nTrump was spending on Friday at his private estate in South Florida, where he has been meeting with advisers and interviewing potential Cabinet nominees. He is also building out his White House staff, announcing that campaign manager Kellyanne Conway will join him in the West Wing as a counsellor.Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday also called for the country to reinforce its military nuclear potential and praised the army\u2019s performance in its Syria campaign.
\nIn a speech that recapped military activities in 2016, Putin said the army\u2019s preparedness has \u201cconsiderably increased\u201d and called for continued improvement that would ensure it can \u201cneutralise any military threat\u201d.
\n\u201cWe need to strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defence systems,\u201d the Kremlin strongman said.
\n\u201cWe must carefully monitor any changes in the balance of power and in the political-military situation in the world, especially along Russian borders, and quickly adapt plans for neutralising threats to our country.\u201d He said Russia\u2019s military had successfully demonstrated its capabilities in Syria, showcased its technology to potential arms buyers and helped the Syrian army make considerable advances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MOSCOW\/PALM BEACH: Presi\u00addent-elect Donald Trump on Friday abruptly called for the United States to \u201cgreatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability\u201d until the rest of the world \u201ccomes to its senses\u201d regarding nuclear weapons. Trump made the statement on Twitter and did not expand on the actions he wants the US to take or on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8417,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8411","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n