On February 3, Russia and the United States officially extended the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty (START) for five years. President Biden pledged to keep the American people safe from nuclear threats by restoring U.S. leadership on arms control and nonproliferation. And it was the day when the United States took the first step toward making good on that pledge, as was reported by the press service of the U.S. Department of State
“Extending the New START Treaty ensures we have verifiable limits on Russian ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers until February 5, 2026. The New START Treaty’s verification regime enables us to monitor Russian compliance with the treaty and provides us with greater insight into Russia’s nuclear posture, including through data exchanges and on-site inspections that allow U.S. inspectors to have eyes on Russian nuclear forces and facilities. The United States has assessed the Russian Federation to be in compliance with its New START Treaty obligations every year since the treaty entered into force in 2011. Especially during times of tension, verifiable limits on Russia’s intercontinental-range nuclear weapons are vitally important. Extending the New START Treaty makes the United States, U.S. allies and partners, and the world safer. An unconstrained nuclear competition would endanger us all,” the statement of the U.S. Department of State reads.
According to the State Department, even if the United States works with Russia to advance U.S. interests, they shall also work “to hold Russia to account for adversarial actions as well as its human rights abuses, in close coordination with our allies and partners."
The agreement was signed and entered into force on the same day.
According to the statement of the Russian MFA, the agreement on the extension of the new START Treaty will enter into force as signed until February 5, 2026.
It was also specified that a telephone conversation between Russian and US presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden was crucial for the conclusion of this agreement.
The previous treaty will expire on February 5.