(Brussels) NATO expressed on Friday its “concern” to see Moscow “failing to fulfill its obligations” arising from the New Start treaty, calling on Russia to respect the latest nuclear disarmament agreement binding it to the United States.
“We call on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the treaty by facilitating planned inspections on its territory and resuming its participation in the Bilateral Consultative Commission, the treaty’s enforcement body,” said a statement. of the Alliance.
American diplomacy criticized Moscow for having suspended inspections and canceled talks planned under this agreement, without accusing it of having extended its nuclear arsenal beyond the agreed limits. For its part, Russia accused the United States on Wednesday of having “destroyed the legal framework” of the treaty.
“The Allies recognize that the new Start treaty contributes to international stability by limiting the strategic nuclear forces of Russia and the United States”, underlines NATO. “It is therefore with concern that we note that Russia is failing to fulfill the legally binding obligations imposed on it” by the treaty, continues the Alliance.
Relations between the two nuclear powers have been at their lowest since the start of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, while Washington supports Kyiv with financial and military aid.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the threat of the use of atomic weapons in the conflict in Ukraine, rekindling fears of a nuclear conflict.
Russia announced in early August to suspend planned US inspections of its military sites under the New Start treaty, claiming to act in response to US obstacles to similar Russian inspections in the United States.
Moscow then postponed indefinitely the session of the bilateral advisory commission on the treaty, which was to be held in Cairo from November 29 to December 6, accusing Washington of “hostility” and “toxicity”.
Signed by US President Barack Obama in 2010, the New Start treaty limits the arsenals of the two countries to a maximum of 1,550 warheads deployed on either side, a reduction of almost 30% compared to the previous limit set in 2002.
It also sets the maximum number of launchers and heavy bombers to 800.
