Trump Opens Door to New Nuclear Treaty With Russia, China

President Trump in State of the Union address opens the door to renegotiating another Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that he says could include China in addition to Russia.

• In absence of another negotiated treaty, “we will outspend and out-innovate all others by far,” Trump says in remarks
• NOTE: U.S. gave Russia written notice about its decision to withdraw from the 1987 treaty with the former Soviet Union; Trump has argued that Russia has been in violation of the pact for years and that the treaty doesn’t address the rising threat from China, which isn’t a signatory
• Trump highlights his administration’s efforts to “fully rebuild” the U.S. military, citing national security spending of $700b and $716b for FY18 and 19
• Trump refers to the development of a “state-of-the-art missile defense system”
  • NOTE: Pentagon has sought to strengthen defense against growing ballistic missile threats from North Korea and Iran by boosting spending on new detection radars, sensors and an increased number of missile silos
  • Developments stands to benefit major defense companies – Boeing, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman – contractors that have already cornered the nation’s missile defense efforts
• Trump also says the U.S. has secured $100b increase in defense spending from NATO allies