November 26. According to a report by the Russian Satellite News Agency on the 26th, Richard Weitz, an expert at the “Valdai” International Debating Club and director of the Center for Political and Military Analysis of the Hudson Institute in the United States
Believes that the postponement of “New Strategic Weapons Reduction” The Treaty will be the top priority of the Biden administration in the field of arms control, and the United States is unlikely to return to the Open Skies Treaty.
Weitz said in an interview on the 26th: “Biden will make the extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty the top priority for arms control. He has the right to pass a presidential decree to extend the treaty for up to five years without Congress’s approval. “Weitz pointed out that Biden prefers to extend the treaty for several years so that negotiators have time to discuss how to include new weapon systems and other countries in future new treaties.
Weitz said that it will become more difficult for the United States to return to the Open Skies Treaty. He said: “Biden can also re-participate in the Iran nuclear agreement through a presidential decree, but some original or related conditions have expired, such as the UN ban on the import and sale of weapons to Iran. Therefore, it is better to have an updated agreement. “With regard to the return of the United States to international agreements, Weitz believes that one of the first measures of the new US administration will be to return to the Paris climate agreement.
The “New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty” entered into force on February 5, 2011. It requires both parties to reduce their nuclear arsenals to the following level, that is, after 7 years, the total nuclear arsenal will not exceed 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers, 1550 nuclear warheads and 800 deployed and undeployed launchers.
At present, the “New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty” is the only existing arms limitation treaty between Russia and the United States, but it will expire on February 5, 2021. If it is not postponed, there will be no more documents restricting the arsenals of nuclear powers in the world.
