US and Russian envoys to discuss new arms control treaty, invitation sent to China

United States Special Presidential Envoy Marshall Billingslea will travel to Austria on June 22-23 to meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and discuss mutually agreed topics related to future of arms control. According to United States Department of State, Washington has also extended an open invitation to People's Republic of China to join discussions over need for all three countries to pursue arms control. According to reports, China has thus far, rejected United States' proposal to join meeting and be part of deal.

Re: US, Russia To Start Nuclear Arms Control Talks This Month

Media reports suggest that US ministration officials insist on bringing China into new arms control pact because of growing threat posed by its nuclear arsenal, that country is currently modernising. Some arms experts also suggest that move by Trump ministration to call for inclusion of China into new arms pact is a strategy to kill START treaty and end restraints on US arms deployment. 

Re: Russian Nuclear-capable Bombers Fly Near Alaska

United States wants all three countries to reach an agreement on future nuclear arms control before current New START deal between Moscow and Washington expires. New START deal which is also kwn as New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed between United States and Russian Federation on April 8, 2010, in Prague and after ratification, entered into force on February 5, 2011. treaty is set to expire in February 2021. 

Re: Putin-Trump Call Focuses On Coronavirus, Arms Control, Oil

New START treaty

New START treaty limits number of nuclear warhes deployed by both Russia and United States to 1,550. treaty also restricts number of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers, submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers, and heavy bombers that can carry nuclear warhes at time of any potential war. New START replaced Treaty of Moscow (SORT) that was in force from June 2003 to February 2011. Strategic Offensive Reductions (SORT) was set to expire in December 2012.

Re: Mike Pompeo To Russia: Any New Arms Control Talks Must Include China

(Im Credit: AP)