Washington must continue to modernize its nuclear forces, the Pentagon believes.
The U.S. is not willing and does not intend to enter a nuclear arms race with Russia. This was announced on Tuesday by Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Planning and Opportunities Victorino Mercado, speaking at a hearing in the Armed Forces Committee of the House of Representatives.
“Nuclear deterrence is a top priority for the ministry. We are doing everything we can to provide deterrence”, – he said. – “At the same time, Russia has about two thousand non-strategic nuclear weapons <…> We have neither the desire nor the intention to get involved in an arms race. Our goal is nuclear deterrence, supported by flexibility”.
The US, Mercado stressed, should continue to modernize its nuclear forces, including sea-based cruise missiles.
As White House chief Donald Trump said on February 10, the United States is increasing spending on its nuclear arsenal and will continue to do so until agreements are reached with Russia and China.
In 2010, Russia and the United States concluded the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START III). It remains in force for 10 years (until 5 February 2021), unless replaced by a subsequent agreement before that date. The document can be extended for a maximum of five years, that is, until 2026, by mutual agreement of the parties.
Moscow urges Washington not to delay the extension of the treaty and characterizes it as the gold standard in the field of disarmament. Responding to TASS on November 4, Trump assured that the U.S. would like to conclude a new arms control agreement with Russia, China and possibly several other countries. When asked an additional question whether the U.S. would like to extend the START Treaty, the White House head did not answer.