The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has urged Russia to respect the only treaty it has with the United States aimed at keeping a lid on nuclear weapons expansion.
The organization also called on Moscow to allow on-the-ground inspections of military sites to resume.
The so-called New START Treaty was signed by Russia and the U.S. in 2010. It sets the limit of the number of long-range nuclear warheads they can deploy at 1,550 and limits the use of missiles that can carry atomic weapons.
The pact allows short-notice inspections of each other’s nuclear bases and support facilities.
NATO ambassadors disclosed in a statement that, “We note with concern that Russia has failed to comply with legally-binding obligations under the New START Treaty.”
The 30-nation U.S.-led military alliance supports the treaty and believes that it helps to limit the expansion of nuclear forces.
The envoys noted that Russia’s refusal to hold consultations or to allow U.S. inspections since last August “prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the Treaty, and undermines the United States’ ability to adequately verify Russian compliance with the Treaty’s central limits.”
“We call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty by facilitating New START inspections on Russian territory, and by returning to participation in the Treaty’s implementation body,” the forum in which the two sides could consult, NATO said.
As tensions escalate over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, leading NATO power, the United States has accused Moscow of not meeting its commitments under the decade-old New START pact.
On Tuesday, Washington condemned Russia for suspending inspections under the treaty and cancelling talks but did not accuse its Cold War rival of expanding its nuclear warhead arsenal beyond agreed limits.
NATO member states said they “call on Russia to fulfil its obligations” by allowing inspections and returning to talks.
Russia has hit back at Washington by accusing it of destroying weapons control agreements between the two countries.
Diplomacy between the two powers has ground to a bare minimum over the past year as the United States leads a drive to sanction Russia and arm Ukraine with billions of dollars in weapons.
Western Allies And The Public Worried That Putin May Use Nuclear Weapons
President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly reinforced his nuclear rhetoric since he ordered Russian troops into Ukraine almost a year ago, raising concern among Western allies and the public over whether he might actually use such weapons.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons, reviving Cold War era fears.
Moscow’s failure to facilitate verification is worrying the alliance.
Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov said earlier this week, “We have repeatedly pointed out to the Administration that the situation with New START is a direct result of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against our country.”
“In the current circumstances we consider it unjustified, untimely and inappropriate to invite the U.S. military to our strategic facilities.” Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov
The U.S.-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 U.S. support for Ukraine.
Inspections of U.S. and Russian military sites under the New START treaty were paused by both sides because of the spread of the coronavirus in March 2020.
The U.S. 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 U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control.”
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