Russia Cites Nuke-Curb Dialogue Considerations

Source: Global Security Newswire, 9 November 2012

A high-ranking Russian envoy on Thursday said an antimissile dispute with the United States and several other issues are affecting the potential for additional negotiations on eliminating atomic armaments, ITAR-Tass reported.
 
"True, a continuation of the talks is in fact linked to what will happen to missile defence or not happen. This link is indisputable and is reflected in the [New] START Treaty. It has provoked many debates in the US, including in the Senate during the ratification of the treaty," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said to Ekho Moskvy.
 
 "But we put the question in a broader context: we think that talks on nuclear arms reduction cannot continue without taking into account a number of factors that influence strategic stability," Ryabkov said.
 
 "Missile defence is one of the main factors but it's not the only one. The US is creating capabilities for a so-called prompt global strike (by conventional strategic forces), there are plans to deploy attack weapons in space, there are imbalances in conventional armaments, there is the non-ratification of the [Comprehensive] Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, and so on and so forth," he said.
 
The official said his country does not presently believe there is justification to end its participation in the New START pact, Interfax reported on Thursday.
 
"We do not want such development and believe that there are no reasons to talk about some dramatic consequences for the New START at the moment," he told Ekho Moskvy. "We have time to come to an agreement."
 
The New START pact requires Moscow and Washington by 2018 to each reduce deployment of strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550, down from a cap of 2,200 mandated by this year under an older treaty. It also limits the number of fielded long-range warhead delivery platforms to 700, with an additional 100 strategic systems permitted in reserve. The treaty, which took effect in February 2011, calls for the nations to regularly share quantities, siting and schematics of armament equipment and sites.
 
Moscow and Washington, though, remain at odds over US plans to deploy ballistic missile interceptors in Europe. Russia argues that weapons could ultimately be used against its nuclear forces, and has not been convinced by US and NATO assertions that their missile defence plans on the continent are aimed at Iran. The Obama administration's had rejected Russia's demand for a legally binding pledge that its nuclear deterrent would not be targeted under the Europe project.
 
"We expect that we will reach an agreement on missile defence with the US on conditions that would ensure stronger security for us and would not go against the well-known elements of American missile defence policy, including those determined by US Senate while it ratified the New START," Ryabkov added.
 
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov on Thursday said Moscow is "pleased with the joint work with the United States in the implementation of [the New START treaty]," Interfax reported separately. "Time has proven the correctness of Russia's linking of strategic offensive armaments and missile defence" in the text of the accord, the official stated.
 
Antonov said Washington "should not fear discussions of tactical nuclear weapons and nondeployed nuclear warheads," Interfax reported on Thursday.
 
 "Russian tactical nuclear weapons do not threaten US military security, but US arms in Europe create a threat to Russia's military security," he said.