That'd be a ****ing hoot.
If they managed to get a working uber-laser the US would be ****ed as there's pretty much no defence against it. It's reliable, long-range, powerful, infinitely scalable and requires no restricted components to build.
"Okay Georgey, we'll surrender all our nuclear materials."
*laser tears apart the convoy sent to retrieve it just as it enters american territory*
*thermonuclear explosion ensues*
"Dude, we told you that **** was dangerous."
Not to mention they could take out American communication satellites and screw the armed forces beyond belief.