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1 1 (January 22, 2021)

handle is hein.crs/govecbl0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional *.Research Service Status of U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Talks Updated January 22, 2021 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. 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. These talks did not produce an agreement before the end of the Administration. On January 21, 2021, the Biden Administration announced that it would seek a five-year extension of New START. 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 refused, as it has far fewer nuclear weapons than the United States or Russia. He then suggested that Russia 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 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11520 CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress