Vice President Mike Pence and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson recently joined U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) for a review of the dual-nuclear missions of the Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota to highlight the central role the nation’s nuclear triad plays as a deterrent for threats to global peace.
After touring both of the base’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) silos as well as its B-52 hangars, the vice president then received a briefing from the base commanders.
During the tour, Hoeven emphasized the need to continue updating the nation’s nuclear forces with modern capabilities in order to ensure that they act as an effective and credible deterrent.
“Our men and women at the Minot Air Force Base provide a critical service in defense of our nation, including regularly flying B-52s out of Guam to deter North Korean aggression,” Hoeven said. “Over the past several years, we have made important investments in their missions, but the effort to update our B-52s, nuclear cruise missiles and ICBMs is still ongoing. We must continue to provide our service members the tools they need to succeed.”
Pence’s trip to the base follows a visit from U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis at Hoeven’s invitation in September.
According to Hoeven’s office, the visits are part of the senator’s efforts to modernize the nation’s nuclear arsenal and provide for stronger security at the Minot Air Force Base. In July, Hoeven secured a total of $27 million in the Senate’s FY2018 funding legislation for an indoor firing range at the base.