Russia will be able to guarantee its nuclear security, despite the US breaking off agreements.
While negotiations are ongoing between the two countries, given the expiration of the START-3 treaty (Strategic Treaty on the Reduction and Elimination of Offensive Arms) and the possibility that the United States will not renew it, Russia says it is prepared to face any scenario and is capable of guaranteeing its own security.
Mauro Gemma, 247 - "We are absolutely certain that we can guarantee our security even without this treaty," emphasized Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, regarding the future of the agreement, which will expire in February of next year.
Currently, START-3 is the only agreement linking the United States and Russia since August 2019, when the United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Missile (INF) Treaty, signed in 2010, writes Mauro Gemma in Marx21.
Last June, Russia and the United States discussed in Vienna the possibility of extending the START-3 treaty, signed ten years ago in Prague, which limits the arsenals of the two nuclear powers, for at least five years.
Lavrov emphasized that Moscow is prepared to face any scenario in light of a possible US withdrawal from the treaty and reiterated, however, that his country "will continue to invest in dialogue with the United States on strategic issues and new arms control instruments."
The Russian foreign minister stressed the importance of extending the agreement, which he considers necessary not only for Moscow but also for Washington. Lavrov emphasized that nuclear risks have increased significantly in recent times. "The situation regarding international security and strategic stability is deteriorating," he stated.
Lavrov accused the United States of being the cause of this situation, with the intention of "regaining global dominance and achieving victory in what is called the rivalry of the great powers." According to the minister, Washington has abandoned the expression "strategic stability," replacing it with "strategic rivalry."
The Russian foreign minister said that during the upcoming summit of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (USA, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom), the date of which has not yet been set, his country will promote the argument that nuclear war must be absolutely avoided. He also found it worrying that the White House refuses to acknowledge that a nuclear conflagration is unacceptable.
Source: www.marx21.it