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| Donald Trump signals US nuclear arsenal expansion until 'world comes to its senses' | Donald Trump signals US nuclear arsenal expansion until 'world comes to its senses' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump has sparked fears about a new nuclear arms race with a Tweet that reverberated around the world in which he called on the US to expand its nuclear arsenal. | |
| In a single tweet that will raise more questions about both his temperament and experience, the President-elect said US must "greatly strengthen and expand" its nuclear arsenal until "the world comes to its senses regarding nukes". | In a single tweet that will raise more questions about both his temperament and experience, the President-elect said US must "greatly strengthen and expand" its nuclear arsenal until "the world comes to its senses regarding nukes". |
| He gave no other details about his plans. But his comment immediately triggered fears that the next US president will reverse decades of policy in which the nation has, in tandem with Russia, sought to reduce its nuclear arsenal. | He gave no other details about his plans. But his comment immediately triggered fears that the next US president will reverse decades of policy in which the nation has, in tandem with Russia, sought to reduce its nuclear arsenal. |
| The Associated Press said that the Thursday morning comment from Mr Trump came a day after he met with several military procurement officers to discuss defence budgets, including Lt Gen Jack Weinstein, the deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration for the Air Force. | The Associated Press said that the Thursday morning comment from Mr Trump came a day after he met with several military procurement officers to discuss defence budgets, including Lt Gen Jack Weinstein, the deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration for the Air Force. |
| During the campaign, Mr Trump had suggested that the US expand its arsenal and he also suggested that the “better off” if other countries, including Japan and South Korea, had nuclear capabilities. He said that would mean that the US’s traditional allies might not be so dependent on Washington. | During the campaign, Mr Trump had suggested that the US expand its arsenal and he also suggested that the “better off” if other countries, including Japan and South Korea, had nuclear capabilities. He said that would mean that the US’s traditional allies might not be so dependent on Washington. |
| Mr Trump was spending Thursday at his private estate in South Florida, where he has been meeting with advisers and interviewing potential Cabinet nominees. He is also expanding his White House staff, announcing that campaign manager Kellyanne Conway will join him in the West Wing as a counselor. | Mr Trump was spending Thursday at his private estate in South Florida, where he has been meeting with advisers and interviewing potential Cabinet nominees. He is also expanding his White House staff, announcing that campaign manager Kellyanne Conway will join him in the West Wing as a counselor. |
| Reaction to Mr Trump’s comments was quick. Anti-nuclear campaigners said the comments underscored how little Mr Trump understood the danger of nuclear expansion - something on which there had been bi-partisan agreement in the US for decades. | |
| Kate Hudson, General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), told The Independent she was “deeply concerned” by Mr Trump’s comments. | |
| “It was very striking that during the campaign he made comments that suggested he did not understand much about nuclear weapons, and suggested other countries should develop their own,” she said. | |
| “The US already has enough weapons to destroy everything there is several times over. Why does it need more. It seems crazy. He needs to understand that this is the best way to start a nuclear.” |