Washington DC [United States], Jan 31 (NT): United States President Donald Trump has powerfully exchanged his views on the challenges that "rivals like China and Russia" faced by his country in his first official State of the Union address.

"As we rebuild America's strength and confidence at home we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad," Trump added, "around the world we face rogue regimes, terror groups and rivals like China and Russia that challenge our interests, economy and values."

According to the administration's new National Defense Strategy which disclosed this month, the Pentagon singles out China and Russia as the "central challenge" posed by the US armed forces.

"In confronting these dangers, we know that weakness is the surest path to conflict, and unmatched power is the surest means of our defense," the US President further said.

 Trump urged the US Congress for more money for defense spending to rebuild the military.

"As part of our defense, we must modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression," Trump underscored.

Trump showed his anxiety over Islamic State (IS) and terrorism as saying

"We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated," Trump added, "Terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants. And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are."

Earlier in his speech,  President Trump announced that he has signed an executive order to keep the detention facility at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay open. (NT)