US Focuses On Deterrence with China's Increasingly Provocative Behavior, Outlines Goals In Middle East

Department of Defense: China's nuclear modernization efforts dwarf previous attempts in both scale and complexity. China will likely reach 1,000 operational nuclear warheads by 2030.

WASHINGTON - The Department of Defense says that it remains "laser-focused" on deterring conflict in the Indo-Pacific as China boosts its military power and engages in increasingly provocative behavior.

The department has also outlined its goals in the Middle East as it supports Israel's right to defend itself from terrorism and contain the violence from terrorist organizations.

Ely S. Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs said, "We're not losing sight of the fact that the department has identified China as the top pacing challenge. We're investing focused capabilities on solving operational problems associated with that."

In regards to the conflict in the Middle East, the Department said that both the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier strike group and the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group have been ordered to the Central Command area of operations (Middle East) and will remain in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

DOD: Additional Forces Placed On Prepare-To-Deploy Orders, Carrier Strike Group Deployments Send “Deliberately Strong Signal” To Adversaries: