Vance: New START talks underway

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that Washington and Moscow are currently developing a new strategic arms agreement that will differ from the expired Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms (New START).

— New START has played an important role in the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The new agreement will be different from the previous one — that is precisely the subject of our current negotiations with Russia. We will continue the dialogue and strive to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons, — Vance told reporters before departing from Azerbaijan.

He expressed confidence that the consultations would lead to a positive outcome. Last week, President Donald Trump proposed developing a new, improved strategic arms agreement with Russia instead of simply extending New START, repeatedly mentioning the desirability of including China in such arrangements.

Context

The Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) is a key international agreement limiting the number of intercontinental ballistic missiles and their mobile launch sites between the United States and Russia.