US pushes for nuclear talks with Russia and China after New START expires

US seeks new nuclear arms talks

The United States on Friday called for trilateral negotiations with Russia and China to establish new limits on nuclear weapons, following the expiration of the New START treaty between Washington and Moscow.

Thomas DiNanno, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control, told the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva that the treaty, which lapsed on Thursday, had “fundamental flaws”.

DiNanno highlighted repeated Russian violations, the growth of global nuclear stockpiles, and weaknesses in New START’s design, arguing that a new framework is needed to address modern threats. He also criticised China’s nuclear arsenal, saying it currently has “no limits, no transparency, no declarations, [and] no controls”.

The under secretary stressed that future arms control efforts must include China alongside Russia to be effective.

New START had capped the US and Russia at deploying 1,550 nuclear warheads each. Its expiration marks the first time in decades that no treaty limits the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, raising concerns about a renewed arms race.

US President Donald Trump rejected a Russian proposal to extend the treaty for another year, calling instead for a “new, improved and modernised treaty”.

DiNanno said the United States seeks to strengthen strategic stability while maintaining both its own deterrence and commitments to allies. “New START does not allow the United States to credibly uphold both our strategic deterrence commitments to the American people and our extended deterrence commitments to our allies,” he said.

China has declined to join negotiations, with Ambassador Shen Jian asserting that its nuclear capabilities remain far below those of the US or Russia. “China would not participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations at this stage,” he said.

Russia, meanwhile, insists that any new talks must include other nuclear powers such as France and Britain. Ambassador Gennady Gatilov told the conference that Moscow would only participate if the UK and France, NATO allies of the United States, were also involved.

(With inputs from agencies)