Trump calls for new nuclear weapons treaty with Russia

US President Donald Trump has called for the creation of a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, as the current New START agreement between the two countries expires on 5 February.

Source: Trump on his social media platform Truth Social, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Trump said the New START agreement had been poorly negotiated and, moreover, had been seriously violated. In his view, instead of extending the current deal, the US should "have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernised Treaty that can last long into the future".

The agreement, formally known as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), was signed in 2010 to replace the original START treaty of 1991.

New START entered into force on 5 February 2011 with an initial duration of 10 years and was extended for a further five years in 2021.

Under the treaty, the US and Russia committed to reducing the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 1,550 for each country.

They also agreed to limit the number of delivery systems, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and heavy bombers, to a maximum of 700. Trump has previously called for China to be included in any future nuclear agreement.

Background:

• Earlier, Axios reported that the US and Russia were close to reaching a deal to extend the nuclear arms control treaty.
• On 4 February, Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that after the expiry of the New START treaty, Russia no longer considers itself bound by any limits on its nuclear arsenal.
• Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council and a former president, posted a warning about nuclear war as the New START agreement expires on 5 February.

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