Russia criticises US as final nuclear warhead treaty set to expire

"New START, which stands for Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, limits the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons, those designed to hit an adversary's key political, military and industrial centres. Deployed weapons or warheads are those in active service and available for rapid use as opposed to those that are in storage or awaiting dismantlement. The expiry of the treaty means that Moscow and Washington will both be free to increase missile numbers and deploy hundreds more strategic warheads, although this poses logistical challenges and will take time."

"Russia said that the US had not responded to President Vladimir Putin's proposal to keep observing the missile and warhead limits in the treaty for another 12 months. list of 3 itemsend of list We assume that the parties to the New START treaty are no longer bound by any obligations or symmetrical declarations within the context of the treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday."

"Despite the expiry of the treaty, US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in a new agreement to restrict nuclear weapons. During an interview with The New York Times in January, Trump said of the New START treaty: If it expires, it expires. We'll just do a better agreement. Trump has also called for China to be involved in any future nuclear talks."

Experts warn that the expiry of the US-Russia New START treaty could trigger a fresh nuclear arms race. Russia states it is no longer bound by limits on deployed nuclear warheads after the United States did not respond to a proposal to extend treaty limits for 12 months. New START restricts the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons aimed at key political, military and industrial centers. Deployed warheads are those in active service and ready for rapid use. Treaty expiry allows both sides to increase missiles and deploy hundreds more strategic warheads, though logistical constraints will slow expansion. The US president has expressed interest in negotiating a new agreement and has urged inclusion of China. New START was signed in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev.

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