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Gates: China, Russia to Double U.S. Warheads Post-Modernization

5/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned on May 17, 2026, that when China finishes its nuclear modernization, China and Russia will have twice the warheads of the United States.
He said China leads global shipbuilding but faces domestic challenges.
Gates said the administration’s aim in the U.S. President Donald Trump-Xi meeting was to keep the relationship contained, preserve a trade truce, and manage rivalry via AI and tariff working groups.

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Story summary

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned on May 17, 2026, that when China finishes its nuclear modernization, China and Russia will have twice the warheads of the United States.
He said China leads global shipbuilding but faces domestic challenges.
Gates said the administration’s aim in the U.S. President Donald Trump-Xi meeting was to keep the relationship contained, preserve a trade truce, and manage rivalry via AI and tariff working groups.