Russia said on Wednesday that it remains committed to extending the New START nuclear arms control treaty with the United States (US) and that it would welcome efforts by newly inaugurated President Joe Biden to reach an agreement.
The 2010 accord, which restricts both nations to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads, missiles, and bombers each, is the last major remaining limit on nuclear competition between the two sides. Months of negotiations between the Trump administration and Moscow failed to lead to any progress, and the pact is set to expire on February 5.
“Russia and the president of Russia have consistently advocated the preservation of this most important cornerstone document from the point of view of global strategic stability and security,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. “If our American colleagues will in fact demonstrate a political will to preserve this pact by extending it, this can only be welcomed.” Moscow’s comments follow Biden’s pick for Secretary of State, Antony Blinken’s, who also said on Tuesday that the new administration would look to extend the pact. “He [Biden] will have to make a decision as president about what duration he would seek,” Blinken added. Though there is a provision in the original treaty that allows for an extension of up to five years, it is unclear how recent developments will affect deliberations moving forward.
US-Russia relations have been tense in recent months, with Moscow exiting the Treaty on Open Skies and being accused of engaging in a widespread hacking campaign compromising more than 40 US government agencies and corporations. Biden has vowed to make cybersecurity a key focus of his administration, and punish those responsible for the attack.
In doing so, it may be highly likely that he will soon introduce sanctions or some other punitive measure against Moscow, which could affect negotiations regarding the extension of the treaty. It iss also be possible that key members of Biden’s Cabinet will not be confirmed by the Senate in time for the negotiations, which could further complicate matters. The treaty’s lapse could fuel a potential arms race between Washington and Moscow, further straining bilateral ties.
The former leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev said earlier this week that the relationship between the two sides was “of great concern” but said that an agreement on arms control could help lower the temperatures. “It is necessary to extend the New START,” Gorbachev said, adding that the treaty was not only important in terms of the scale of reductions, but for “stability and control.” He noted inspections, notifications, and consultation mechanisms were “very important, they must not be destroyed.”
“And after the treaty has been extended, we must move on. In two- or three years’ time, a more ambitious treaty can be negotiated,” Gorbachev added.
Russia Reasserts Commitment to Extend New START Treaty
The 2010 accord, which restricts both nations to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads, missiles, and bombers each, is the last major remaining limit on nuclear competition between the two sides.
January 21, 2021
SOURCE: Alexei Babushkin/Sputnik / Kremlin via Reuters