Russia "Welcomes Biden's Willingness to Extend New START Treaty"... Ending on the 5th of Next Month

A Challenge Since the Trump Administration... Deadline Approaching
Renegotiations Needed for Air Liberalization, INF, and Iran Nuclear Deal

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russia has expressed its welcome for the Biden administration's indication of willingness to extend the New START (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) nuclear arms control agreement with Russia. Since the Trump administration, unresolved issues regarding the extension of the New START treaty have led to the breakdown of several existing agreements between the US and Russia, including the Open Skies Treaty and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), causing a deterioration in bilateral relations.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 20th (local time), Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Austria, said in an interview with the Russian state news channel Rossiya 24, "We welcome the remarks made by US Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken at the confirmation hearing indicating the extension of the New START treaty," adding, "We expect serious measures from the Biden administration regarding the return to the Iran nuclear deal." At the US Senate confirmation hearing held the previous day, nominee Blinken stated that he would "work to extend" the New START treaty and that "the length of the extension will be decided by the president."

Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, also said in a statement that day, "We welcome the US political will to extend the New START treaty." The New START treaty, signed by the US and Russia in 2010, has been under negotiation for extension since the Trump administration but failed. Subsequently, the US withdrew from the INF treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, and the Iran nuclear deal, significantly worsening bilateral relations. As the Trump administration failed to finalize the extension, the responsibility has now shifted to the Biden administration. If the two countries fail to agree on an extension by the 5th of next month, the New START treaty faces the risk of termination.

During the Trump presidency, emphasis on modernizing nuclear forces and targeting Russia and China with nuclear force enhancement and hypersonic missile development raised concerns about a nuclear arms race reminiscent of the Cold War era. According to the US political media outlet Politico, Russia has consistently sought a five-year extension without new conditions since the Trump administration, while the Biden administration has no objection to the extension but discussions regarding the extension period are ongoing.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.