NATO on Friday called on Russia to abide by its only treaty with the United States aimed at controlling the spread of nuclear weapons and urged Moscow to allow on-the-ground inspections of military sites to resume.
The so-called New START Treaty was signed by Russia and the US in 2010. It limits the number of long-range nuclear warheads they can deploy to 1,550 and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons. It allows short notice inspections of nuclear bases and each other’s support facilities.
“We note with concern that Russia has not fulfilled its legally binding obligations under the New START Treaty,” the NATO ambassadors said in a statement. The US-led 30-nation military alliance supports the treaty and believes it helps limit the spread of nuclear forces.
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The envoys said Russia’s refusal to consult or allow US inspections since last August “prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the Treaty and undermines the ability of the United States to adequately verify Russia’s compliance with the Treaty’s core limits.” “.
“We call on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the Treaty by facilitating New START inspections on Russian soil and re-engaging in the Treaty implementation body,” the forum where the two sides could consult, he said. NATO.
President Barack Obama, left, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign the New START Treaty in Prague April 8, 2010. On February 3, 2023, NATO called on Russia to respect the treaty and urged Moscow to allow on-the-spot inspections. .
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stepped up his nuclear rhetoric since ordering Russian troops into Ukraine nearly a year ago, raising concerns among Western allies and the public about whether he could actually use such weapons.
The US-Russia committee formed under the treaty last met in October 2021, but Russia unilaterally suspended its cooperation with the pact’s inspection provisions in August 2022 to protest US support for Ukraine.
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Both sides halted inspections of US and Russian military sites under the New START treaty due to the spread of the coronavirus in March 2020.
The US State Department warned Tuesday that “Russia’s refusal to facilitate inspection activities prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the treaty and threatens the viability of US-Russia nuclear arms control.”
