The world is moving closer to nuclear war with Russia and China, the Pentagon has warned.
North Korea is also said to have accelerated testing of missiles capable of reaching America's homeland.
And Iran has is believed to have the technology to create a nuclear weapon within a year.
The Daily Mail reports the US has tried to negotiate reductions in nuclear weapons capabilities since since 2010.
But it has been unsuccessful at doing so and report suggested it had in fact done the opposite.
"Rather, they have moved decidedly in the opposite direction," says the report, released on Tuesday which specifically mentions Russia, China, North Korea and Iran.
The Pentagon report says: "As a result, there is an increased potential for regional conflicts involving nuclear-armed adversaries in several parts of the world and the potential for adversary nuclear escalation in crisis or conflict."
The most serious threat to the United States are Russia and China because of the technology and weapons arsenals the countries already possess.
In 2019, Russia and the US withdrew from their 1987 treaty which required the US and Soviet Union to get rid of its nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometres.
The two counties extended the New Strategic Arms Treaty for five years in 2021.
The agreement enhances U.S. national security and puts verifiable limits on all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons.
China is also reported to have increased its number of nuclear weapons, including its 'most advanced' submarine-launched missiles.
North Korea is also said to have "accelerated" its pursuit of nuclear weapons and increased its missile flight testing, including the testing of intercontinental-range missiles capable of reaching the US homeland, according to the US report.
In the Pentagon report, it says: "North Korea's continued pursuit of nuclear weapons capabilities poses the most immediate and dire proliferation threat to international security and stability."
Iran has the technology and capacity to develop a nuclear weapon within a year of when it decides to do so, the Pentagon report says.
Meanwhile, the 2020 report says the US's nuclear weapons program is a deterrent and only to be used in 'extreme circumstances' to defend the country or its allies against attacks on civilians or major infrastructure.
The 2020 update softened its language and removed mentions of using nuclear weapons.
In the 2019 report it said using nuclear weapons could create conditions for decisive results and restore strategic stability.
It also said the use of a nuclear weapon would "fundamentally change" battle and affect how commanders prevail in conflict.
The updated 2020 version says: "Flexible and limited US nuclear response options can play an important role in restoring deterrence following limited adversary nuclear escalation. Limited nuclear use will create conditions that affect how commanders conduct operations."
