Russian Deputy Foreign Minister: "Extension of US-Russia Nuclear Arms Control Agreement Possible, Including Short-Term Extension Under 5 Years"

"New START Treaty Extension, Shorter Period Better Than None"
"Whoever Becomes New US President, Will Continue Seeking Solutions"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, expressed the possibility of a shorter-term extension than the previous 5-year extension period in the ongoing negotiations to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the United States, which aims at nuclear reduction. He also made it clear that the negotiations will continue regardless of changes in the U.S. administration after the November U.S. presidential election. This is interpreted as a pressure to promptly continue the negotiations, pointing out that the talks, which began in June, have stalled as the U.S. government enters the election phase.

According to Russia's TASS news agency, on the 21st (local time), Deputy Foreign Minister Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant regarding the New START treaty under negotiation with the U.S., "While a 5-year extension period as before is preferred, if the U.S. is not ready, it can be set for a shorter period," emphasizing, "Even if the extension period is not sufficiently long, it is better than not extending at all."

He added, "Regardless of whether Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden becomes the next U.S. president, the negotiations will definitely be concluded." This is interpreted as pressure to promptly continue the stalled New START extension negotiations ahead of next month's U.S. presidential election.

The New START treaty, which came into effect in February 2011, is a nuclear arms reduction agreement between the U.S. and Russia, under which both countries limit the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 each. With the treaty's expiration approaching in February next year, the U.S. and Russia began extension negotiations in June this year, and held a deputy-level meeting during the second round of talks last month, but have yet to find common ground.