The new US president Biden wants to renew the expiring treaty with Russia on the limitation of nuclear weapons. His spokesman said it was in the interests of the United States, “especially now that relations with Russia are hostile.”
This concerns the ‘New Start’ treaty from 2010, in which the US and Russia agreed, among other things, to keep the number of operational nuclear warheads each at no more than 1500.
The treaty will expire in two weeks. Presidents Trump and Putin have negotiated an extension in recent years, but were unable to agree.
‘Anchor of strategic stability’
Immediately after Biden’s inauguration this week, Russia already announced that it is open to a five-year extension. The negotiation strategy of Biden’s predecessor Trump was aggressive and counterproductive, according to the Kremlin.
Biden is very keen on such an extension, his spokesman says. She calls the treaty “an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries”.
According to Bidens spokesman, the rapprochement does not mean that the air between the US and Russia is cleared. The US continues to hold Russia responsible for “reckless and hostile actions” such as the poisoning of opposition leader Navalny and attempts to influence US elections.
