US nuclear force lagging behind Russia & China, depending on 70-year-old jets as Russia pact ends?

As the New START nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia expires, Washington signals a potential strategic shift. Air Force Global Strike Command says it can MIRV Minuteman III ICBMs and restore full nuclear capability to the B-52 fleet if directed. The move comes amid rising tensions with Iran and fears of wider conflict. Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln are deployed as Tehran warns of consequences, including threats to the Strait of Hormuz — a vital artery for global oil trade.