The new US administration advocates a five-year extension of the Treaty on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Strategic Offensive Arms (START III).

Jennifer Psaki, White House spokeswoman, said this during a briefing.

“I can confirm that the United States intends to seek an extension of START III for five years, as provided for in the treaty.

The President made it clear long ago that the START III treaty is in the interests of the United States in the area of ​​national security, ”Psaki said.

According to her, the extension of the agreement seems to be an even more logical step against the background of the existing "confrontation in relations with Russia."

"START III is the only remaining treaties limiting Russia's nuclear forces, and it is an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries," added a White House spokeswoman.

In turn, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby supported the intention of the Biden administration and stressed that the prolongation of the agreement is beneficial to the national interests and security of the United States.

“We cannot afford to lose the tools of deep inspection and notification included in the contract.

If START III is not extended quickly, it will weaken America's understanding of Russian long-range nuclear forces, ”he said.

Kirby added that the extension of START to 2026 gives both countries time and space to form "new verifiable arms control mechanisms."

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The other day, the candidate for the post of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, speaking in Congress, expressed confidence that Washington would seek to extend START III.

Pentagon chief candidate Lloyd Austin also said that the nuclear arms control system is in the interests of the United States.

In turn, the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, indicated Moscow's readiness "for a substantive dialogue on the extension of the START Treaty," stressing that the Donald Trump administration put forward unacceptable conditions, which led to a dead end bilateral consultations on this issue.

“For our part, we have advocated and continue to speak in favor of extending the START Treaty, and from the most realistic positions.

We consider it possible to prolong it exclusively in the form in which the agreement was signed, and without any preconditions.

An extension for the maximum five-year term stipulated in the agreement looks preferable, ”the Foreign Ministry said.

On January 18, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov indicated during an online press conference that Moscow would wait for "concrete proposals" to extend START III, which expires on February 5, 2021.

“Our position is well known and remains valid,” he said, calling Joe Biden a specialist in disarmament and arms control.

Recall that the Russian-American Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms was signed in 2010 by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and US leader Barack Obama, in whose administration Biden served as vice president.

The ten-year agreement entered into force on February 5, 2011.

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In accordance with the agreement, both states pledged to reduce their strategic offensive weapons within seven years.

Up to 700 deployed heavy bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine ballistic missiles can remain in service with the participating countries.

The total number of deployed and non-deployed launchers and strategic missile-carrying bombers should not exceed 800 units, and the total number of deployed nuclear warheads should not exceed 1,550.

In addition, the deployment of offensive weapons beyond national borders is prohibited.

"The initiative is welcome"

Anton Morozov, member of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, stressed that START III is a fundamental treaty in the architecture of modern international security.

According to him, the position of the Donald Trump administration to withdraw from the agreement "created certain threats to peace and security on a global scale."

“Therefore, the initiative of the new Biden administration in this direction can only be welcomed.

I hope that our diplomats will find mutually acceptable approaches in the negotiation process on the extension of this treaty.

And also, possibly, its actualization, taking into account the emergence of new players with modern types of offensive strategic weapons, "the deputy explained in a conversation with RT.

The head of the international committee of the Federation Council, Konstantin Kosachev, also praised the United States' readiness to extend START III for a five-year period.

"Great news if this position is not accompanied by any additional conditions and if the current text is extended," RIA Novosti quotes the senator.

Leonid Slutsky, the head of the State Duma's international affairs committee, said that if the parties decide to prolong the agreement, Russian deputies are ready "to quickly join the preparation of the ratification process in the Russian parliament."

In turn, Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research, noted that expanding the methods and methods of using strategic weapons has never been a priority for Joe Biden's team.

“They have always believed that the United States will cope without the massive development of weapons of mass destruction.

In addition, they believe that for Russia these are the most powerful types of weapons, so restrictions on this indicator are more beneficial to them and less beneficial to Russia.

Therefore, from the very beginning it was assumed that the administration would not mind ... The only thing that is new here is that they immediately announced that this is a separate episode that they would sign, and they are not going to agree on all other points, ”the interlocutor of RT said.