On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced suspending Russia’s participation in the New START treaty, the only remaining nuclear arms control agreement with the United States.
As Putin said during his state-of-the-nation speech, if the US seeks to end a global ban on nuclear weapons testing that has been in place since the Cold War, Russia should be ready to resume testing.
According to Putin, the US and its NATO allies aim for Russia’s defeat in Ukraine and “trying to reach our nuclear facilities simultaneously.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized Putin’s decision as “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible.”
Blinken stated that the US is prepared to discuss strategic arms limitations with Russia at any time and emphasized the importance of acting responsibly in this area. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg regretted Putin’s move, saying it has dismantled the full arms control architecture.
As the US has pushed for nuclear inspections, NATO allies have assisted Ukraine with drone attacks against Russian air bases, Putin argued.
In addition, he pointed out that NATO’s statement on New START demonstrates the alliance’s nuclear capability is not included in the US-Russian deal because Britain and France have nuclear weapons.
Despite suspending its participation in the treaty, Putin insisted that Russia is not withdrawing entirely from it.
Several on-site inspections guarantee compliance with the 2010 New START treaty, which limits the number of nuclear warheads each country may deploy and the number of missiles and bombers each country may deploy.
Russia and the US agreed to extend the treaty for another five years, just days before it expired in 2021. Mutual inspections under the treaty have been suspended since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russia has refused to allow their resumption, raising uncertainty about the pact’s future.
According to the US State Department, Russia’s refusal to allow inspections threatens nuclear arms control between the two countries.
Putin challenged the US assertion and claimed that the US had rejected some of Russia’s requests to visit specific US facilities.
He also alleged that the US is working on nuclear weapons and considering resuming nuclear tests, banned under the global test ban. Putin warned that Russia’s state nuclear corporation and Defense Ministry must be ready for nuclear weapons tests if the US conducts any.
With the suspension of the New START treaty, concerns have been raised about the future of arms control and the potential for a new arms race between the US and Russia.
The treaty has been seen as a cornerstone of global security, and its suspension could destabilize the international community.
The US and Russia possess large nuclear arsenals, and any increase in weapons production could have catastrophic consequences.
The situation in Ukraine and the tensions between Russia and the US also contribute to the suspension of the treaty.
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing since 2014, and the fighting has escalated in recent months. The US and its NATO allies have supported Ukraine, while Russia has backed separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.
The situation has increased tensions between the two countries, and the suspension of the New START treaty reflects this heightened state of affairs.
What the future holds for the New START treaty and arms control remains to be seen. The US and Russia are willing to continue talks, but the situation is uncertain.
The international community is watching closely and hoping for a resolution that will lead to stability and peace. In the meantime, the suspension of the treaty raises serious concerns about the future of global security and the potential for a new arms race.
