By J C Suresh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TORONTO | WASHINGTON, D.C. (IDN) \u2014 While independent arms control experts around the world heaved a sigh of relief at Joe Biden\u2019s signature decision to extend the New START<\/a> Treaty with Russia through February 4, 2026, Pentagon officials say it is \u201cjust the beginning of a larger discussion with Russia and China about placing further limits on nuclear weapons proliferation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense (DOD)<\/a>. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase The Pentagon is also often used as a metonym or synecdoche for the Department of Defense (DOD) and its leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Addressing the virtual Air Force Association\u2019s Aerospace Warfare Symposium on February 26, Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten<\/a>, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the New START treaty with Russia \u201cis a good thing because it limits nuclear weapons and has a process to verify adherence\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n New START continues the bipartisan process of verifiably reducing U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals begun by former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. New START is the first verifiable U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control treaty to take effect since START I in 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Officially known as the Treaty on \u2018Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms\u2019 entered into force on February 5, 2011. Its original duration was 10 years until February 5, 2021, with the option for the Parties to agree to extend it for up to an additional five years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hyten said that both the United States and Russia met the central limits of the New START Treaty by February 5, 2018 and have stayed at or below them ever since. Those limits are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1,550 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments; each such heavy bomber is counted as one warhead toward this limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ICBMs capable of delivering nuclear weapons, heavy bombers and submarines comprise America\u2019s nuclear triad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n