US Proposes Military Unit to Counter Nuclear Proliferation

The US is considering creating a specialized military unit to respond quickly to global nuclear proliferation threats.

The initiative was voiced by Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center (NPEC), Breaking Defense reported.

The idea gained attention following statements by President Donald Trump on preventing the spread of nuclear technologies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later met with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to reaffirm Washington’s position.

Following strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, officials saw a need to consolidate non-proliferation efforts into a systemic, rather than one-off, approach. Consistency, they argue, will determine US credibility in this area.

Historically, Washington has acted inconsistently. Under Presidents Ford and Carter, the US blocked plutonium processing in South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil, while adopting a softer stance toward Pakistan, India, and Iran.

Iraq was an exception: the US destroyed its nuclear facilities and imposed strict controls. Subsequent agreements with North Korea and Iran, however, appeared inconsistent, suggesting a willingness to compromise rather than strict enforcement.

In June, the Trump administration drew a “red line” by banning Iranian nuclear fuel production. Experts say Washington must respond similarly to other countries pursuing nuclear programs.

Saudi Arabia is a potential concern. The US is negotiating a nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh to allow uranium enrichment, while Saudi officials have warned they may develop nuclear weapons if Iran succeeds.

Another risk is Iran potentially leaving the NPT, similar to North Korea in 2003, which developed its own bomb within three years. Whether the Trump administration would act to prevent a repeat remains uncertain.

The bombing of Iran’s facilities set a precedent and temporarily halted its program. Officials say Washington now has a chance to make this a long-term strategy.

The initiative calls for a non-proliferation control unit to coordinate with other commands, staffed with analysts and given access to intelligence outside traditional channels, including from Israel and the IAEA.

The second component would be rapid-response military assets, primarily bombers with penetrating munitions capable of striking nuclear targets globally.

Creating the force would require reallocating STRATCOM resources and would likely face internal resistance. Officials say, however, that if counterproliferation is a White House priority, military structures must be adapted to the mission.