Joe Biden was sworn in as U.S. President on Wednesday. WhiteHouse.gov
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden will seek to extend the New START arms control treaty with Russia and will have to decide how long an extension to pursue, his choice for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Tuesday.
“We will seek to extend it,” Blinken told lawmakers. “He’ll have to make a decision as president about what duration he would seek,” Blinken added, leaving open the possibility that Biden might seek to extend it by less than the maximum five years allowed under the treaty, which expires Feb. 5.
New START restricted the United States and Russia to deploying no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads, the lowest level in decades, and limited the land- and submarine-based missiles and bombers that deliver them.
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Update #1: Biden administration to seek five-year extension on key nuclear arms treaty in first foray with Russia (Washington Post)
Update #2: Blinken: Biden Administration to Engage With Russia ‘Very Quickly’ on Extending New START Treaty (Sputnik)
WNU Editor: The Kremlin has responded .... Kremlin says would welcome Biden's efforts to extend New START arms control treaty (Reuters).
More News On Russian Reaction To Extending The START Treaty
Kremlin Says Russia Would Welcome Biden's Efforts To Extend New START Nuclear Treaty -- RFE Russia’s envoy dubs Blinken’s words on extension of New START treaty as a positive signal -- TASS Russia Backs Extension of New START for Maximum 5-Year Period, Foreign Ministry Says -- Sputnik Russia Urges Biden to Be 'More Constructive' Over Arms Treaty -- Moscow Times/AFP
