Poisoning of Kremlin-critic with Novichok nerve agent prompts censure.
The United States and Russia have signaled their willingness to hold arms control talks. Moscow said it would reconsider a withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty if Washington returns, and France aims to hold a P5 dialogue in the coming months.
The loss of the only remaining treaty limiting the world’s two largest arsenals is averted as Washington and Moscow pledge to pursue further arms control measures.
Moscow says it might reverse the process for withdrawal if the United States takes steps to return to the multilateral agreement.
The United States and Russia extend New START for five years. Moscow announced it started domestic procedures to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty but will reconsider if Washington returns to the agreement.
A Statement from Executive Director Daryl G. Kimball
Until the Trump era, every U.S. president since John Kennedy has successfully concluded at least one agreement with the Soviet Union, or later Russia, to reduce the dangers posed by nuclear weapons to the United States and the world.
Arms control offers a tool to enhance U.S. security. After extending the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the Biden administration should seek to engage Russia in negotiation of a follow-on agreement and use that to draw third-country forces into the arms control process.
The fate of the only treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons remains in question as the Trump administration closes.
Future of New START likely rests on the incoming Biden administration. U.S. Army selects two missiles to serve as the basis for conventional INF-range capability. United States completes withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty.
Within weeks of taking office, President Joe Biden and his team will be confronted with dozens of pivotal choices.
The U.S. withdrawal raises questions about the treaty’s future.
The annual UN session on disarmament and international security reflected the full range of arms control disputes.
Waning U.S., Chinese, and Russian cooperation has harmed nuclear nonproliferation efforts. It is time to revitalize that critical work.