Russia and the US disagree, the fate of the START Treaty is left open
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia still hopes the two countries will reach a common understanding to extend the Treaty.
In just four months, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (also known as the New START treaty) - the last major arms control treaty between Russia and the United States - will expire. However, disagreements have prevented the two countries from agreeing on the terms of the treaty's extension.
Speaking to the press yesterday (October 14), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia still hopes that the two countries will reach a common understanding to extend the agreement. However, so far, Russia has not yet agreed with the US to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
“To reach a common understanding to extend the agreement, we hope that both sides will move in the same direction. We all understand that it is necessary to extend the agreement because this is in the interests of both countries and is a strategic security for the whole world.”
In response to Russia's statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US wants to complete an agreement with Russia that benefits both countries.
However, Mr. Mike Pompeo did not forget to set conditions for China to participate in this agreement in the future: “We welcome the opportunity to complete an agreement based on common understanding between the two countries to extend the New Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty. The agreement reached will benefit the whole world, restraining the development of the most dangerous weapons. We are working very hard. The US Ambassador and the working group are still trying very hard and I hope the Russian side will find a way for the two sides to reach a common agreement to bring mutual benefits. I also hope that China will join us in future negotiations."
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed.signed between Russia and the United States in 2010and is valid for 10 years. The treaty is expected to expire in February 2021 and can be extended for 5 years if both sides agree. Previously, the US side repeatedly affirmed its willingness to extend this treaty with Russia even in the short term, but with some conditions attached.
Specifically, the US wants to ensure that an effective verification regime is in place to restore confidence that the parties will comply with their commitments under the agreement in the future. The US also sets conditions for China to join the agreement in the future - a condition that Russia has repeatedly rejected. The Russian side believes that the conditions proposed by the US are not close to reality.
With the above statements from both Russia and the US, it can be seen that in the short term, the two sides cannot reach an agreement to extend the Treaty. To reach a common understanding, the two sides are forced to promote more negotiations, accompanied by compromise and concessions.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty limits the number of nuclear warheads, missiles, and strategic bombs that Russia and the US can deploy. If the treaty is not extended, a Cold War-style nuclear arms race between Russia and the US is entirely possible, leading to continued tensions in the relationship between the two countries./.
