On Friday 3 February, the North Atlantic Council underlined the Allies’ concerns about Russia’s failure to meet its legally binding obligations under the New START Treaty.
Agreed in February 2021 for 5 years, the New START Treaty limits the strategic nuclear forces of Russia and the US.
“Russia’s noncompliance undermines the viability of the New START Treaty”, the Allies warn in a statement.
The North Atlantic Council believes that Russia’s refusal to arrange a meeting of the Bilateral Consultative Commission within the timeframe provided for in the Treaty and to facilitate US inspection activities on its territory since August 2022 prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the Treaty and undermines its ability to adequately verify Russia’s compliance with the Treaty’s central limits.
The Allies therefore call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty by facilitating planned inspections on its territory and by returning to participation in the Bilateral Consultative Commission, the Treaty’s implementation body. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)