By J C Suresh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TORONTO | WASHINGTON, 21 Feb 2023 (IDN) \u2014 The Arms Control Association<\/a>, an independent, membership-based organization, has strongly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s decision to <\/em>suspend implementation of the last remaining treaty limiting the world\u2019s two largest nuclear arsenals, the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty<\/a> (New START).<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a statement, Arms Control Association (ACA) Executive Director Daryl G. Kimball was referring to remarks in Putin\u2019s State of the Nation address, which he says is \u201ca rambling attempt to justify Russia\u2019s illegal invasion of Ukraine\u201d one year ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHis comments suggest Russia will not engage in talks to resume New START\u2019s on-site inspections, participate in meetings of the treaty\u2019s Bilateral Consultative Commission, nor share data on strategic nuclear stockpiles as required by the treaty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These actions, says Kimball, represent a major violation of the terms of New START and are not allowed for under the terms of the treaty. \u201cOther senior Russian officials have previously said Russia will maintain under the central limits set by the treaty (1,550 deployed strategic warheads and 700 deployed strategic delivery vehicles).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this does not mark the end of New START, which is scheduled to expire on 5 February 2026, Putin\u2019s announcement makes it far more likely that, after New START expires, there will be no agreement limiting U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals for the first time since 1972,<\/a> warns Kimball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, Putin\u2019s \u201csuspension\u201d of New START harms Russia\u2019s own security interests. \u201cAbsent full implementation of treaty provisions, Moscow (and Washington) gains less insight and information regarding the U.S. strategic nuclear arsenal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ACA Executive Director adds: the New START suspension undermines Russia\u2019s obligations as a party to the 1968 nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT<\/a>), which requires the nuclear-weapon states to \u201cpursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The statement continues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn contrast, U.S. President Joe Biden has made<\/a> it clear that his administration stands ready to expeditiously negotiate a new nuclear arms control framework with Russia to supersede New START\u2013but that Russia must first work in good faith to resume<\/a> New START inspections. This is a more than reasonable request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf New START expires in 2026 with no successor arrangement, Washington and Moscow could each double<\/a> the number of their deployed strategic nuclear warheads in short order. Such a course of action would produce an arms race that no one can win and that increases the dangers of nuclear weapons for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe strongly support the Biden administration\u2019s announcement<\/a> today that the United States \u201cremains ready to talk about strategic arms limitations at any time with Russia irrespective of anything else going on in the world or in our relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n