Russia to Comply with Nuclear Treaty Despite Expiration Date

Russia and the United States have reached the end of the New START treaty, a nuclear arms control agreement that has been in effect since 2010. The treaty’s expiration marks the end of limits on the two countries’ strategic nuclear weapons, which had previously been capped at 1,550 deployed warheads.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia will continue to be a responsible nuclear power, despite the treaty’s expiry. He also expressed regret over the lapse of the agreement, citing a call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the week. The matter was discussed as part of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ expression of regret over the treaty’s expiration.

Experts have noted that the treaty’s demise may lead to a new global arms race. China has also expressed its regret, stating that the treaty is significant for maintaining global strategic stability. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that China will not participate in disarmament negotiations due to its limited nuclear capabilities compared to Russia and the US.

The White House announced that US President Donald Trump would decide on the way forward regarding nuclear arms control. A NATO official called on the US and Russia to act with “responsibility and restraint” to maintain global security, citing concerns over Russia’s and China’s increasing nuclear capabilities.

Source: Al Jazeera