A deal with Russia to cut nuclear arsenals and new limits on the use of U. S. nuclear weapons won't pose security risks, the Obama administration said on Sunday.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates took that message to three of the Sunday news talk shows.

Clinton said on NBC's "Meet the Press", "We will always protect the United States, our partners and allies around the world. Our nuclear deterrent will remain secure, safe and effective in doing so. But we also think we will ultimately be safer if we can introduce the idea that the United States is willing to enter into arms treaties with Russia to reduce our respective nuclear arsenals and that we're going to stand for non-proliferation in a way that will perhaps deter others from acquiring nuclear weapons."

President Barack Obama signed the arms-control treaty with Russia on Tuesday and the same day he unveiled a new nuclear strategy that says the United States would not use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear country in compliance with non-proliferation agreements.

The United States now enjoys more strength in nuclear deliberations and arms control than it had under past administrations, said Gates on ABC's "This Week."

He further said, "We have more robust deterrents today because we've added (missile defense) to the nuclear deterrent."

He also pointed to use of long-range missiles with conventional warheads.

The defense secretary said, "So we have more tools if you will in the deterrents kit bag than we used to."

Gates and Clinton defended the administration's pledge not to use nuclear weapons in response to a chemical or biological attack. (With Inputs from Agencies)