VIENNA (AUSTRIA) – Talks on nuclear weapons between the US and Russia began in Vienna on Monday with envoys of both countries making only guarded comments shortly before they met.
Little has been said officially about the weapons control negotiations but the US envoy has made it clear they will be about nuclear weapons, suggesting they will include replacing the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expires in February.
“We’ll see,” US Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea told Reuters when asked what he expected to come of the talks as he arrived with his delegation.
He declined to elaborate on their content.
Russian interlocutor, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, was equally cautious, saying, “Let’s see, let’s see. We are always very hopeful.”
New START imposes the last remaining limits on US and Russian deployments of strategic nuclear arms to no more than 1,550 each. It can be extended for up to five years if both sides agree to.
Although US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for China to join the United States and Russia in talks on a deal to replace New START. Beijing, which has about 300 nuclear weapons, has repeatedly rejected the proposal.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field
