The United States follows in Russia’s footsteps on the nuclear treaty

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WASHINGTON – The United States announced Thursday it would stop providing key information about its nuclear weapons to Russia, in retaliation for Moscow’s decision to withdraw from thethe new START treaty.

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The move could escalate nuclear tensions, especially if Russia continues to launch nuclear threats against Ukraine or the West.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia.  January 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Files)

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Then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. January 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Files)

Biden administration officials said they did not believe suspending information sharing would increase the risk of nuclear weapons use in Ukraine, but said the treaty has helped the United States and Russia in the past better understand how it operated each country. .

In February, Russia announced it would suspend its participation in New START.

For several months the United States continued with the notifications required by the treaty.

But on Thursday the United States said it would take the same steps as Russia.

The State Department said the United States would stop allowing treaty-required inspections of nuclear sites, stop providing information on the movement of missiles or shuttles, and stop providing key telemetry data on intercontinental missile and submarine tests.

The announcement comes ahead of statements expected on Friday by Jake Sullivannational security adviser, at the annual meeting of the Arms Control Association, a nonpartisan group that promotes gun control policies, in Washington.

The United States has said it will continue to notify Russia when it intends to test-fire missiles.

Russia has also agreed to notify when it moves strategic bombers, and the United States has said it would do the same.

The problems with the New START provisions began long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year.

New START inspections were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions prevented inspectors from entering both countries.

But when those restrictions were lifted, Russia continued to deny US inspectors access.

(Russia also accused the US of not allowing the inspections, but US officials insisted they were willing to allow them as long as Russia did.)

c.2023 The New York Times Society

Source: Clarin

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