"We will make certain adjustments to our posture and capabilities," a senior administration official said, adding that the U.S. believes it needs "to adopt a more competitive approach to non-proliferation and arms control" in light of rising global tensions.
National Security Council official Pranay Vaddi is expected to provide more details about this new direction at an upcoming arms control conference.
Last year, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed a willingness to discuss arms control with China and Russia "without preconditions," but these proposals were effectively rejected by Beijing and Moscow, prompting a change in approach.
The administration still hopes to bring its geopolitical rivals to the negotiating table but wants to demonstrate that refusing to talk will have consequences, the official said.
Russia and China "will face a diminished security environment if they continue to refuse to engage."
In addition, the U.S. is considering further development of its nuclear forces in response to the growing nuclear threat and is working to ensure that key allies have long-range strike capabilities and surveillance abilities needed to defend themselves.