Is the New Start Treaty with Russia a priority for President-elect Trump?
The US Arms Control Association said that the immediate priority of US President-elect Donald Trump is the expiring Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia (New START).
According to RIA Novosti on November 15, the US Arms Control Association said that the immediate priority of US President-elect Donald Trump is the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia (New START) which is about to expire.
“The Trump administration’s most pressing priority remains the swift end of New START in February 2026, as well as decisions by the Kremlin and the White House on how to manage their strategic nuclear relationship and prevent an arms race,” the organization said.
The US Arms Control Association noted that, although President-elect Donald Trump “bragged” about his close personal relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his election campaign, arms control negotiations between Moscow and Washington are facing serious difficulties.
If Mr. Trump wants to start his presidency with a high-profile diplomatic victory, he could make Russia reduce the risk of building up its nuclear forces after New START expires by offering to maintain Russia’s nuclear forces at levels consistent with the treaty’s limits after the treaty expires, “provided Russia does the same,” the association added.
On February 21, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his message to the Parliament, announced that Russia was suspending its participation in the Russian-American START Treaty, emphasizing that the country was not withdrawing from the treaty. Mr. Putin noted that before returning to the discussion, it is necessary to understand what countries such as France and the UK have declared and take into account their strategic arsenals, that is, the total nuclear strike potential of NATO. The official note on Russia's suspension of the Treaty was sent to the US side on February 28, 2023.
In early June 2023, as a countermeasure under the New START Treaty, Washington announced that it would stop transferring information to Moscow about the status and location of US strategic weapons covered by the treaty, revoke visas issued to Russian experts for inspection under the New START Treaty, and declare its refusal to issue the new treaty.
In addition, the US announced that it would stop providing Russia with telemetry information affecting the launch of US ICBMs and submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Russia's return to the START Treaty would only be possible if the United States abandoned its hostile policy towards Moscow.
