The United States is “attuned” to the security concerns of its close partners like India, the White House said on Monday even as it sought to defend President Barack Obama’s recent comment on the Nuclear arsenals and military doctrines of India and Pakistan that has raised hackles in New Delhi.
“The President’s comments were motivated by the concern that we have about Nuclear and missile developments in South Asia,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters, noting: “In particular, we’re concerned by the increased security challenges that accompany growing stockpiles, particularly tactical nuclear weapons that are designed for use on the battlefield.”
“These systems are a source of concern because they’re susceptible to theft due to their size and mode of employment. Essentially, by having these smaller weapons, the threshold for their use is lowered, and the risk that a conventional conflict between India and Pakistan could escalate to include the use of nuclear weapons,” he said.
Although the US concern has really been about Pakistan’s deployment of tactical battlefield nuclear weapons, Earnest commented in broader terms, saying the Obama administration has “regularly expressed concern about any sort of tactical nuclear weapons”. Earnest’s replies to questions on the subject came hours after India took exception to Obama’s comment made at a news conference on conclusion of the Nuclear Summit Security here on Friday, during which he had lumped India and Pakistan together and said progress was needed to make sure that “they are not continually moving in the wrong direction” as they development military doctrines. Reacting to the comment, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Monday: “There seems to be a lack of understanding of India’s defence posture. Conventionally, India has never initiated military action against any neighbour. We also have a no-first use nuclear weapons policy.”
Asked pointedly about India’s complaint about the “lack of understanding” about its defence posture, Earnest said: “We’re certainly aware of the unique region of the world in which India is located. And we certainly appreciate the need India has to take the necessary steps to defend themselves.”
But the goal of the Nuclear Security Summit, he said, was to eventually create a world without nuclear weapons, adding it was a longer-term goal prioritized by Obama who believed it could be pursued consistent with national security interests of countries around the world.
“We’re certainly going to be particularly concerned about and attuned to the national security concerns that are expressed by close partners of the United States like India,” Earnest said, adding: “And that said, we do believe that evolving in this direction is something that won’t just enhance the national security of the United States, it will also enhance the national security of India.”