U. S. concerned about Russia’s withdrawal from nuclear weapons control Treaty
2023.02.21 13:45
U. S. concerned about Russia’s withdrawal from nuclear weapons control Treaty
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – On Tuesday, the United States said that Russia’s decision to stop participating in their last major pillar of nuclear arms control was irresponsible. However, it also gave Moscow some leeway to change its mind.
In regards to Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin issued a nuclear warning to the West, suspended the New START bilateral arms control treaty, announced the deployment of new strategic systems in combat, and warned that Moscow might resume nuclear tests.
He spoke the day after American Vice President Joe Biden visited Kiev to demonstrate support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, which began with Russia’s invasion on February 24 and has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides.
“The declaration by Russia that it’s suspending investment is profoundly lamentable and unreliable,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told correspondents in Athens.
“We’ll be paying close attention to see what Russia does.” Naturally, we will ensure that we are appropriately positioned for our own and our allies’ security in any case.
A U.S. official and two analysts said that the U.S. response to Putin’s statements reflects a measured calm. They said that the meaning of the statements was unclear and Washington wanted to give Moscow room to change course.
Eugene Rumer, a former U.S. national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia who is currently employed by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank, stated, “In this charged atmosphere, I think it’s entirely sensible to sound cool, calm, and collected.”
The Arms Control Association’s Daryl Kimball stated, “By suspension rather than withdrawal, it appears as though Russia intends to stay within the central limits of the treaty.”
Despite Putin’s announcement, the Russian foreign ministry later stated that Russia will continue to adhere to the treaty’s limitations on the number of nuclear warheads it can deploy.
The treaty, which was signed in 2010 and is set to expire in 2026, restricts the countries’ ability to deploy strategic nuclear warheads. Moscow and Washington can only use 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads, 700 land- and submarine-based missiles, and bombers to deliver them under the terms of the agreement.
A U.S. official said that the country is still trying to figure out what Putin might have meant.
“We have no better understanding of what this actually means. According to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity, “it may have just been a talking point, or it may have signaled an intention to back away from the treaty in more substantive ways.”
Blinken made it clear that arms control talks with Russia could be resumed at any time. On-site inspections and meetings of the bilateral commission to implement the pact, two of the key provisions of the treaty, are currently in abeyance. It is still unknown whether Russia will continue to exchange data in accordance with the treaty.
Even though both sides agreed to extend the treaty for five years at the beginning of 2021, tensions have been growing since then. On January 31, Washington said that Moscow had broken the agreement by refusing to let inspections take place on its territory.
He stated, “We remain ready to talk about strategic arms limitations at any time with Russia, regardless of anything else that is going on in the world or in our relationship.”
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