The United States Set To Renew The New START Treaty Under Special Circumstances
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US President's special envoy for arms control, Ambassador Marshall Billingslea. (Source: Getty Images) |
US Ambassador Marshall
Billingslea said the country is ready to extend the new Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty (New START) only under special circumstances.
In an online discussion on
June 24, US President's special envoy on arms control, Ambassador Marshall
Billingslea said that the country is ready to extend the new Strategic Arms
Reduction Treaty (New START). Only in special situations.
"We are willing to consider extending the agreement but only in special cases."
Said Billingslea.
According to Bill
Billingslea, these conditions include addressing China's rapid and
"worrying" strengthening of the nuclear and concerns about
Russia-related allegations, in addition to the obligations of the New START.
The US also wants to ensure
an effective verification regime is in place to restore confidence that all
three parties will comply with future agreed upon commitments.
The US special envoy said
talks with his Russian counterpart this week in Vienna have strengthened their
understanding of arms control issues between the two countries and areas of
cooperation.
Billingslea said the next
round of US-Russia strategic stability talks that could take place in late July
or early August in Vienna and China will be invited to attend the US and
Russian technical working groups on arms control will meet in the coming days
in Vienna.
Billingslea ruled out the
possibility of delaying the deployment of medium-range missiles after the US abandoned
the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in August
2019. Russian officials have repeatedly denied US accusations that they
violated the treaty.
On June 22, Billingslea and
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Serge Ryabkov, conducted negotiations on
the extension of the New START, the final bilateral treaty limiting the two
countries' nuclear arsenals. Effective February 2021.
Russia wants the current
agreement to be extended for another five years, while the US insists on a multilateral
treaty covering China, which has declined an invitation to join.
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