US stops sharing nuclear arms data with Russia under START Treaty

Christina Macpherson

Mar 31

Aljazeera, 29 Mar 23,

Under terms of the New START treaty, both countries should share data on deployed nuclear warheads on a biannual basis.

The United States has told Russia it will cease exchanging detailed data on its nuclear weapons stockpiles, the White House said, calling the move a response to Russia's suspension of participation in the New START nuclear arms treaty.

While Russian President Vladimir Putin has not formally withdrawn from the treaty, his suspension from participating in it announced in February has endangered the last pillar of US-Russian nuclear arms control.

The US and Russia hold nearly 90 percent of the world's nuclear warheads – enough to destroy the planet several times over. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads countries deploy.

"Russia has not been in full compliance and refused to share data which we … agreed in New START to share biannually," John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesperson, told reporters in a conference call on Tuesday.

"Since they have refused to be in compliance … we have decided to likewise not share that data," he said..............................................

Under the terms of the New START, signed in 2010 and due to expire in 2026, Moscow and Washington may deploy no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads and 700 land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers to deliver them............................ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/3/29/us-stops-sharing-nuclear-arms-data-with-russia-under-start-treaty

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