Time running out on the last Us-russia nuclear arms treaty

WASHINGTON: Time is running out on an arms control treaty that, if it’s allowed to expire, will leave the world with no legal restrictions on US and Russian nuclear weapons for the first time in nearly half a century.

If President Donald Trump doesn’t extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty only remaining Us-russia arms control pact or succeed in negotiating a replacement treaty, it will expire on February 5. That’s just 16 days after Trump begins a second term or his successor is sworn into office. Russia has offered to extend New START for up to five years, but Trump is holding out. He thinks China, which is expected to double its stockpile of nuclear weapons in the next decade, should have to sign on to a nuclear arms control accord, too.

The future of New START was further called into question with Trump’s announcement Thursday that the US intends to withdraw from another treaty that permits observation flights over the US, Russia and more than 30 other nations.trump voiced his desire for a three-way arms control agreement months ago, but that effort is still in the starting blocks.

Marshall Billingslea, who was appointed last month as the president’s special envoy for arms control, said Thursday that he had his first secure phone call with his counterpart in Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Billingslea said they agreed to meet, talk about their objectives and find a way to begin negotiations.

Suffice to say, this won’t be easy. It is new, Billingslea said, adding that the US fully expects Russia to help bring China to the table.