US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the Senate on Wednesday that Pakistan, alongside Russia, China and North Korea, represents one of the most significant nuclear threats to the United States today. Briefing senators on developments related to Iran, Gabbard said the US had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme in June of last year and had observed no attempts to rebuild those capabilities since.
Gabbard said US intelligence has noted a sharp increase in the number of missiles capable of reaching the United States. Estimates cited by Reuters project that the total could rise from roughly 3,000 now to more than 16,000 by 2035.
She warned that Iran, China, Russia and North Korea are actively creating new missile delivery systems able to carry both nuclear and conventional warheads, bringing the US homeland within range. “The intelligence community assesses that Russia, China, North Korea, Iran and Pakistan have been researching and developing an array of novel, advanced or traditional missile delivery systems, with nuclear and conventional payloads, that put our homeland within range,” Gabbard said.
She also noted that North Korea is deepening its ties with Russia and China.
