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1 1 (November 13, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdcov0001 and id is 1 raw text is: SConr essional Research Servik Status of U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Talks Updated November 13, 2020 Introduction The New START Treaty will expire on February 5, 2021, unless the United States and Russia agree to extend it, possibly for up to five years. In April 2019, President Trump called for expanded arms control efforts with Russia and China, both to capture all types of Russian weapons and to bring China into the process for the first time. The Administration argued that this would serve U.S. national security interests better than a simple extension. In December 2019, Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that he would extend New START for five years, without preconditions; Russian officials noted that the countries could address other weapons systems in separate talks after extending New START. The United States and Russia held several meetings during 2020 to discuss New START extension and a framework for a future agreement. China has refused to participate, as it has far fewer nuclear weapons than either the United States or Russia. Issues in the Negotiations China Prior to beginning negotiations with Russia, the U.S. negotiator, Ambassador Marshall Billingslea suggested that Washington would not extend New START unless China joined the talks. He invited China to participate, but China declined. He then suggested that Russia should pressure China to participate. Foreign Minister Ryabkov rejected this, noting that such a decision would be the sovereign right of China. Moreover, Russian officials have argued that a multilateral treaty should include the United Kingdom and France, a suggestion the United States has rejected. After meeting again in August, Ambassador Billingslea reiterated the U.S. goal of including China, but, in contrast to earlier statements, indicated that the United States was not suggesting ... that we would amend the New START Treaty to include China. He also did not insist that China participate before the United States agreed to extend New START, but indicated that the framework for the next treaty would have to include a path for China to join later. Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress. gov IN11520 CRS INS GHT Prepared for Members and Cornmttees oi Conqres3-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------