NATO allies said Friday they are concerned that Moscow is not respecting a key nuclear arms control treaty.
The New START Treaty between the United States and Russia places limits on strategic offensive arms. But earlier this week, Washington said Moscow is failing to comply with its obligations under the treaty — a charge which Russian authorities have denied.
And now NATO’s 30 members — plus alliance invitees Finland and Sweden — have weighed in on the dispute, underscoring that effective arms control is in everyone’s interest and calling on the Kremlin to comply.
“NATO Allies agree the New START Treaty contributes to international stability by constraining Russian and U.S. strategic nuclear forces,” the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s principal political decision-making body, said in a statement.
“We note with concern,” the allies added, “that Russia has failed to comply with legally-binding obligations” under the agreement.
Moscow’s failure to facilitate verification is worrying the alliance.
“Russia’s refusal to convene a session of the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC) within the treaty-established timeframe, and to facilitate U.S. inspection activities on its territory since August 2022 prevents the United States from exercising important rights under the Treaty,” the allies said.
Russia has rejected U.S. concerns.
“We have repeatedly pointed out to the Administration that the situation with New START is a direct result of the hybrid war unleashed by the West against our country,” Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Anatoly Antonov said earlier this week.
“In the current circumstances we consider it unjustified, untimely and inappropriate to invite the U.S. military to our strategic facilities,” he said.
But, the ambassador added, “Russia remains committed to the goals of the New START Treaty.”
