WASHINGTON — Two U.S. senators have introduced bipartisan legislation seeking to reaffirm Washington’s “ironclad” extended nuclear deterrence commitments to South Korea and other treaty allies, amid growing nuclear threats from North Korea, China and Russia. The Reaffirming Extended Nuclear Deterrence Act, introduced by Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) late last month and cosponsored by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), calls for maintaining a credible U.S. nuclear deterrent supported by conventional military capabilities, joint exercises and strategic consultations with allies. The bill states that United States should “reaffirm that its extended deterrence commitments to its treaty allies remain ironclad” and ensure that its military posture, exercises, strategic consultations and defense investments demonstrate The legislation specifically identifies South Korea, Japan, Australia and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as allies whose security directly advances U.S. national security interests, while highlighting growing nuclear threats from North Korea, China and Russia. It also
