Speaking on May 29 at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley Jr. emphasized Russia’s and China’s growing nuclear weapons capabilities and recent modernization, DIA announced May 31.
“With the return to great-power competition, nuclear capabilities are
again at the forefront of the critical work for the Intelligence Community and
for the Defense Intelligence Agency in particular, this is why we exist,” said
Ashley.
Ashley explained that Russia and China are in the middle of a
modernization process which will see their nuclear stockpiles increase in
quantity and lethality.
“Nuclear weapons remain central to Russia’s and China’s military plans
and intentions and therefore, remain a critical area of analysis for the
Defense Intelligence Agency to provide our senior leadership with decision
advantage” he said.
Following his remarks, Ashley was asked about the policy implications of
Russian and Chinese nuclear modernization on agreements such as New Start, the
Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty.
Ashley stated the IC does not produce policy, but provides policymakers
and senior leaders the information necessary to be effective at the negotiating
table.
“While compliance determinations, such as the INF Treaty, are ultimately
made by the U.S. interagency policy community,” explained Ashley, “it is the
job of the Intelligence Community to analyze those activities that have
implications for a country’s international obligations.”
The event was recorded and can be viewed in its entirety at Hudson.org.
Source: DIA
By Loren Blinde
June 3, 2019
