... some even plan to increase numbers of nuclear warheads, which raises doubts about their commitment to Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and encourages potential proliferators to continue attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. Moreover, strategic arms control per se is in a deep crisis: the United States walked out of the ABM and INF agreements, while Russia suspended its participation to the New START that in any case expires in the beginning of 2026. It is not at all clear whether the strategic arms control as we know it since early 1970s survives the current confrontation between Moscow and the ...
... the transatlantic relations that were seriously damaged by his predecessor. Another burning matter is a trade agreement with China: it will not end the US-Chinese economic or technological competition, but can at least help to prevent a full-fledged trade war between Washington and Beijing. In sum, Biden can allow himself to put most of the Russia files on a back burner, with the possible exception of the pending strategic arms control question. It implies that we will not see an early US-Russian summit in 2021; at best, the two leaders could meet ...
... control with Russia in the future, in particular, if the threat environment stabilizes and U.S. policymakers feel that they better understand the challenge posed by China. However, the takeaway was that U.S. policymakers prioritize the challenge posed by China over Russia.
What would future arms control regimes look like? Do challenges to the existing regime stem from inadequacies in the treaty or from an absence of political willpower and creativity from political leaders? Elements of the existing arms control framework could be extended ...
TNI editor Jacob Heilbrunn interviews Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov about the New START Treaty and the state of U.S.-Russia relations.
Heilbrunn
: The U.S. is pushing very hard against China right now, at least rhetorically. China has vowed to smash any Taiwanese move toward independence and looks to be cracking ... ... that may help to change things for the better.
Heilbrunn
: Final question: do you think that matters, at least in the area of arms control, would change under a Biden presidency? Because the Democrats are much more sympathetic to arms control agreements ...
