Russia Threatens To Renege Commitment On Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty With US

Moscow has threatened to renege its commitment to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) both in the framework and in the area of non-proliferation with Washington.

"We have not taken any concrete steps in this direction, but I am not ruling out the possibility that Washington could force us to do so, to adjust our policy in this area," Mikhail Ulyanov, Head of Non-Proliferation and Arms Control of the Russian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti Tuesday.

"It would be quite natural, considering the unfriendly nature of US actions (in regard to Russia)," he said.

Under the new START, the US and Russia must meet the Treaty’s central limits on strategic arms by February 5, 2018; seven years from the date the Treaty entered into force.  Both the countries have the flexibility to determine for itself the structure of its strategic forces within the aggregate limits of the Treaty.  These limits are based on the analysis conducted by Department of Defense planners in support of the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review.

The new START limits the deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments to 700. Deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments to 800.