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US, Russia Agree to Hold Talks on New START Nuclear Treaty
AntiWarNov 25, 2022
The Facts
The White House said Tuesday it would cease exchanging with Russia some data on its nuclear forces after Moscow did the same. The US called it a response to Russia suspending participation in the New START nuclear arms treaty, which limits the pair's stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons.
Although Russian Pres. Putin has not formally withdrawn from the treaty, his suspension of participation announced in February jeopardizes the last major component of US-Russian nuclear arms control.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Moscow's threat to suspend the New Start Treaty is a violation of numerous provisions of the agreement, as well as an attempt to divide American opinion over the war in Ukraine by raising the specter of nuclear Armageddon. The US must stay firm with the Russians and encourage them to return to compliance with the treaty.
Establishment-critical narrative
Russia has suspended its participation in the New Start Treaty but remains committed to the principle that a nuclear war is unacceptable. Before returning to the discussion of compliance with the treaty, however, Russia wants to understand how the arsenals of not only the US but also other NATO nuclear weapons powers — i.e. the UK and France — will be accounted for by it.
