Push Admin

US urges keeping Russia nuclear arms limits, eyes China

Article (news)

Sebastian Smith, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Russia" s="" new="" mobile="" intercontinental="" ballistic="" missile="" RT-2PM="" Topol="" is="" displayed="" at="" the="" International="" Military-Technical="" Forum="" in="" Aug.="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/overseas/08/15/20220815-weapon.jpg"/><figcaption>Russia&#x27;s new mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) RT-2PM Topol is displayed at the International Military-Technical Forum in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 22, 2017. <em>EPA/YONHAP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>WASHINGTON—A top White House official on Friday offered to maintain current nuclear warhead limits with Russia, while making the case for putting rising power China at the center of future arms control efforts.</p><p>National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made the comments in a speech at the annual National Arms Control Association meeting in Washington, as he outlined the attempt by Joe Biden administration to confront what he called &quot;substantial&quot; and &quot;deep&quot; cracks in the post-Cold War nuclear landscape.</p><p>With the last US-Russia arms control treaty -- New START -- largely moribund and due to expire in 2026, Sullivan said the United States is keen to forge a new treaty.</p><p>In the meantime, however, Washington wants the world&#x27;s two leading nuclear powers to preserve the core of that treaty -- a limit for each of 1,550 warheads.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re prepared to stick to the central limits as long as Russia does,&quot; Sullivan said.</p><p>He also called on Moscow to start new talks for a post-2026 framework, saying &quot;rather than waiting to resolve all of our bilateral differences, the United States is ready to engage Russia now to manage nuclear risks.&quot;</p><p>Unlike during the Cold War, when there were only two global nuclear powers, the future of arms control will revolve around China&#x27;s rapidly expanding arsenal and global presence, Sullivan said.</p><p>&quot;By 2035, (China) is on track to have as many as 1,500 nuclear warheads -- one of the largest peacetime nuclear buildups in history,&quot; Sullivan said, meaning that &quot;the United States will need to deter two near-peer nuclear powers for the first time in its history.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re also ready to engage China without preconditions,&quot; he said.</p><p>A senior US official told reporters that the China factor not only involves the need for Washington to manage the threat directly but to consider the ripple effects created for US nuclear allies Britain and France, whose own smaller arsenals are largely directed at countering Russia.</p><p>Agreements with China &quot;of course will affect our ability to come to some sort of accord with the Russians,&quot; the official said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/05/18/23/could-be-your-city-a-hiroshima-atomic-bomb-survivors-warning">&#x27;Could be your city&#x27;: a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor&#x27;s warning</a></li></ul><div><strong>DIFFICULT PATH</strong></div><p>With relations at rock bottom with President Vladimir Putin&#x27;s Russia and currently, at a near standstill with Beijing, a difficult path lies ahead.</p><p>China &quot;has thus far opted not to come to the table for substantive dialogue on arms control. It has declined to share the size and scope of its nuclear forces or to provide launch notifications. And it has not shown much interest in discussions regarding the changes to its nuclear forces,&quot; Sullivan said.</p><p>In February this year, Putin announced that Russia was suspending participation in New START, a Cold War-era treaty that limits warheads and allows verification by both sides.</p><p>The State Department said Thursday that it has made reciprocal &quot;countermeasures&quot; by suspending various aspects of the treaty, including on-site inspections and exchange of data.</p><p>While offering to rebuild arms control treaties, Sullivan stressed that the United States will simultaneously improve its nuclear forces.</p><p>&quot;Responsibly enhancing our deterrent capabilities allows us to negotiate arms control from a position of strength,&quot; he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/06/01/23/japan-us-vow-to-enhance-strike-abilities">Japan, US vow to enhance strike abilities amid N. Korean threat</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2509313" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

In February this year, Putin announced that Russia was suspending participation in New START, a Cold War-era treaty that limits warheads and allows verification by both sides.

US urges keeping Russia nuclear arms limits, eyes China

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Overseas

US urges keeping Russia nuclear arms limits, eyes China

Sebastian Smith,

Agence France-Presse

Published Jun 03, 2023 04:27 AM PHT

Read More:

White House

US

Russia

China

nuclear warheads

nuclear arms limits

nuclear weapons

New START

arms control treaty

Vladimir Putin

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.