CNN earlier reported that Joseph Biden was “likely to give the green light for a quick short-term extension” of the START to then begin “more substantive talks” with Moscow
Discussions on arms control and the extension of the US-Russian Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START, START-3) are in the interests of both Russia and the US. A statement to this effect was made on CNN’s Jake Sullivan, who President-elect Joseph Biden intends to appoint as his national security advisor.
The host asked whether Sullivan thought that with a new administration in Washington, Russia and the United States would be able to find areas for cooperation. A spokesman for the Democrat team noted that this was possible “even during the Cold War”. “I am talking primarily about arms control and nuclear non-proliferation”, – he stressed.
“I am confident that today the United States and Russia can act in their national interest to make progress on arms control and issues of strategic stability, to pay attention to the threat posed to the world by nuclear weapons”, – Sullivan pointed out. He said Biden instructed his aides to address these issues “without delay, in the first days and weeks of the new administration”.
“The reason for this is that the key agreement between the US and Russia, the START Treaty, expires in just over two weeks from the start of our work. We will need to address the renewal of that treaty in the interests of the United States”, – he concluded.
CNN reported in late December, citing sources, that Biden was “likely to give the green light for a quick short-term extension” of the START to then begin “more substantive negotiations” with Moscow on strategic stability. According to one TV source, Biden considers the extension of the START Treaty “an important issue” as well as the use of the agreement as “the basis for new arms control arrangements”.