On Monday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced the suspension by the United States of periodic inspections of its nuclear arsenal: those provided for in the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), in force since 2011 between Russia and the United States with the aim of mutual monitor nuclear weapons. The Russian government blames the decision on the impossibility for its agents to conduct inspections on American soil due to the air blockade the United States imposed on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
The new START treaty, the last major agreement between the two parties on this type of weapon, limits the number of long-range nuclear warheads in each country to 1,550: regular mutual inspections are carried out to verify compliance with the terms of the agreement. The treaty had superseded treaties signed by both sides since the end of the Cold War and has always been respected to this day. Inspections had been suspended during the pandemic and should have resumed, but Russia’s foreign ministry said the war in Ukraine “changed the terms” previously set by both sides.
The Russian Foreign Ministry added that the suspension just announced is temporary and intends to continue respecting the treaty. The aim is probably to get concessions by raising the issue of nuclear weapons. Russia’s announcement comes days after US President Joe Biden’s willingness to negotiate a new deal with the Russian government as New START expires in 2026. It’s important that mutual inspections resume, even amid major political tensions like the present.