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Donald Trump says 'let it be an arms race' after nuclear weapons expansion comment Donald Trump says 'let it be an arms race' after nuclear weapons expansion comment
(35 minutes later)
President-elect Donald Trump has said: "Let it be an arms race because we will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all." US President-elect Donald Trump has said: "Let it be an arms race," MSNBC said on Friday.
Mr Trump made the comments to MSNBC talk show Morning Joe. "We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all," Mr Trump said in an interview, the network reported. He did not specify which countries he was referring to.
The Republican leader sparked fears about a new global nuclear arms race on Thursday when he sent a tweet  calling on the US to expand its nuclear arsenal. The Republican leader had sparked fears about a new global nuclear arms race a day before when he called on the US to expand its nuclear arsenal in a Twitter post.
He said the US must "greatly strengthen and expand" its stock of atomic weapons until "the world comes to its senses regarding nukes". He said the US must "greatly strengthen and expand" its stock of atomic weapons until "the world comes to its senses regarding nukes".
The President-elect 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 President-elect 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 atomic arsenal.
During the campaign, Mr Trump had suggested that the US expand its arsenal and he also suggested that the “better off” other countries, including Japan and South Korea, should have nuclear capabilities. He said that would mean that the US’s traditional allies might not be so dependent on Washington. Following the controversial post, a Trump spokesperson attempted to explain the Republican's remarks, claiming he was “referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it — particularly to and among terrorist organisations and unstable and rogue regimes”.
Trump secretary Sean Spicer said in several television interviews on Friday that there would not be an arms race because the President-elect would ensure that other countries trying to step up their nuclear capabilities, such as Russia and China, would decide not to do so.
"He's going to ensure that other countries get the message that he's not going to sit back and allow that," Mr Spicer told NBC. "And what's going to happen is they will come to their senses, and we will all be just fine."
On Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin downplayed suggestions there was a risk of a new cold-war-style weapons race, dismissing comments made by US President-elect as "nothing new".
During the campaign, Mr Trump had suggested the US expand its arsenal and he also suggested that “better off” other countries, including Japan and South Korea, should have nuclear capabilities.
He said that would mean that the US’s traditional allies might not be so dependent on Washington.
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