U.S. Russia talks on new Nuclear Disarmament Treaty begins without China

Delegations from the United States led by Marshall Billingslea and the Russian Delegation under their Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov begin their 2-day talks on 22^nd June 2020 at the capital city of Austria, Vienna.  The talks for extending the nuclear disarmament treaty were in doubt over the last few months as the United States President Donald Trump continued the call for the addition of China in the treaty. The treaty is commonly known by the name ‘START’ treaty.

China’s Response to Trump Call

According to China, It’s still not the right time for them to involve or to be a part of such a nuclear treaty, the United States and Russia has the primary responsibility of nuclear disarmament as the nuclear stockpile of China is dwarfed by those of the two countries.

China also added that for other nations to join the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty, the United States must drastically reduce the size of its stockpile.

START Treaty

START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a bilateral nuclear disarmament treaty between the United States and Russia. The formal name of the treaty is ‘Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms’.

The treaty was last signed on 8^th April 2010, came into effect on 5^th February 2011 for a period of 10 years. The current treaty expires on 5^th February 2021.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2020