Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday announced Russia will droop its participation within the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). The treaty represents the final remaining nuclear arms treaty between the US and Russia.
Putin claimed the US wished to “inflict a strategic defeat” on Russia and “climb on [Russia’s] nuclear amenities.” An announcement from the Russian International Ministry additional explained this, alleging that Western nations–equivalent to nuclear-equipped UK and France–are increasing their nuclear infrastructure eastward. Russia mentioned that this, coupled with the US’s continued use of Ukraine as a proxy to probe the safety of Russian New START amenities, are the explanations for the choice.
The choice comes weeks after the US accused Russia of violating New START by refusing to permit inspections on Russian START amenities. In response to President Putin’s announcement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his disappointment, calling it “each actually unlucky and really irresponsible.”
New START, signed by the US and the Russian Federation in 2010, limits the variety of strategic nuclear armaments each nations can deploy and supplies for bilateral annual inspections to make sure compliance. The treaty is ready to run out in 2026, however each side have the choice to increase it for 5 years.
