Admin l Wednesday, February 03, 2021
WASHINGTON – The United States of America has extended the New START Treaty with Russia for another five years as part of efforts to protect Americans from nuclear threat. Secretary of State, Mr. Antony J. Blinken who made the revelation said extending the New START Treaty ensures parties to have verifiable limits on Russian ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers until February 5, 2026.
“ The New START Treaty’s verification regime enables us to monitor Russian compliance with the treaty and provides us with greater insight into Russia’s nuclear posture, including through data exchanges and onsite inspections that allow U.S. inspectors to have eyes on Russian nuclear forces and facilities. The United States has assessed the Russian Federation to be in compliance with its New START Treaty obligations every year since the treaty entered into force in 2011”, Blinken said.
According to him, especially during times of tension, verifiable limits on Russia’s intercontinental-range nuclear weapons are vitally important and that extending the New START Treaty makes the United States, U.S. allies and partners, and the world safer.
“ An unconstrained nuclear competition would endanger us all”, he noted.
According to him, President Biden has made clear that the New START Treaty extension is only the beginning of our efforts to address 21st century security challenges.
“The United States will use the time provided by a five-year extension of the New START Treaty to pursue with the Russian Federation, in consultation with Congress and U.S. allies and partners, arms control that addresses all of its nuclear weapons.
“We will also pursue arms control to reduce the dangers from China’s modern and growing nuclear arsenal. The United States is committed to effective arms control that enhances stability, transparency and predictability while reducing the risks of costly, dangerous arms races”, he said.
He explained that just as the US has engage the Russian Federation in ways that advance American interests, like seeking a five-year extension of New START and broader discussions to reduce the likelihood of crisis and conflict, the US remains clear eyed about the challenges that Russia poses to the United States and the world.
“Even as we work with Russia to advance U.S. interests, so too will we work to hold Russia to account for adversarial actions as well as its human rights abuses, in close coordination with our allies and partners”, Blinken said.
