U.S. President Donald Trump's administration will adopt a policy allowing the flexible use of nuclear weapons through the new Nuclear Posture Review to be unveiled as early as February, according to congressional and diplomatic sources.

Such a shift would mark a major departure from the nuclear policy advocated by Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, who pledged in 2009 to pursue a "world without nuclear weapons."

The Trump administration will consider developing new low-yield, small nuclear weapons intended to ensure military dominance over rival powers like China, Russia and North Korea, the sources said, quoting an outline of the review.