United States: The United States has announced that it will stop exchanging detailed data on its nuclear weapons stockpiles, calling the move a response to Russia’s suspension of participation in the New START nuclear arms treaty.
According to reports, the US and Russia hold nearly 90 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads countries deploy.
“Russia has not been in full compliance and has refused to share data, which we agreed in New START to share biannually,” Mr. John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesperson, told reporters in a conference call.
“Since they have refused to be in compliance, we have decided to likewise not share that data. We would prefer to be able to do this, but it requires them to be willing to as well,” the US spokesperson added.
Mr. Kirby made it clear that the data would only be shared again when Russia was also ready to do so.
“The US and Russia are obligated to exchange comprehensive databases twice a year. We offered to continue the reciprocal implementation of this obligation. Unfortunately, Russia informed the US that it will not engage in this data exchange due to its purported suspension of this treaty,” Mr. Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the US State Department, remarked.
According to the terms of the New START agreement, signed in 2010 and due to expire in 2026, Moscow and Washington may deploy no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads, as well as 700 land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them.
In February 2023, Mr. Vladimir Putin formally suspended Russia’s participation in the treaty, noting that his step was not an exit from the agreement.
The White House, which has previously accused Russia of multiple violations of the treaty, has commented that Russia’s refusal to comply is “legally invalid” and the decision to withhold the nuclear data is yet another violation.
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