Russia warns of new nuclear arms race
Source: Agencies |
December 2, 2010, Thursday
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RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is warning that his country will find it necessary to build up its nuclear forces, if the United States doesn't ratify a new arms reduction treaty.
The treaty, called New START, was worked out this year amid praise that it marked a newly cooperative spirit between Washington and Moscow. However, many Republicans in the US Senate are expressing reluctance to ratify it.
Putin, in an interview with CNN, said that if the treaty isn't ratified, "we'll have to react somehow," including deploying new nuclear technology.
In interview excerpts posted on CNN's website, Putin said the treaty is in America's best interests and it would take "a very dumb nature" for legislators to ignore that.
Putin's comments come a day after President Dmitry Medvedev made a similar warning to the West on another defense issue, NATO's proposal to build a European missile defense system. Russia has been invited to participate in the system, but substantial questions remain, including whether Russia would be an equal partner with the Western alliance.
"In the next 10 years, the following alternatives await us - either we reach agreement on missile defense and create a full joint cooperation mechanism, or, if we don't reach a constructive agreement, a new phase of the arms race will begin," Medvedev said Tuesday, in his annual address to both houses of parliament. "And we will have to make a decision on deploying new means of attack."
In Washington, Republicans reluctant to ratify New START quickly said on Tuesday the government had dealt with some of their misgivings, raising the prospect for US Senate approval of the treaty.
President Barack Obama has insisted that completion of the treaty is a national security imperative, and he argued for the pact at a White House meeting with congressional leaders.
Republicans, led by Senator Jon Kyl, have rejected the president's contention that the treaty must be dealt with during Congress' current short year-ending session, arguing that the Senate has more pressing business and several issues on the nuclear deal remain unresolved.
But some positive comments raised the possibility that the treaty might be approved by the end of the year.
Senator Bob Corker, a Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Obama administration officials responded to several matters raised by Kyl and himself about modernization of the remaining US nuclear arsenal and sufficient funds for safeguarding the stockpile.
The treaty would reduce the limits on strategic warheads held by the US and Russia to 1,550 for each country.
The treaty, called New START, was worked out this year amid praise that it marked a newly cooperative spirit between Washington and Moscow. However, many Republicans in the US Senate are expressing reluctance to ratify it.
Putin, in an interview with CNN, said that if the treaty isn't ratified, "we'll have to react somehow," including deploying new nuclear technology.
In interview excerpts posted on CNN's website, Putin said the treaty is in America's best interests and it would take "a very dumb nature" for legislators to ignore that.
Putin's comments come a day after President Dmitry Medvedev made a similar warning to the West on another defense issue, NATO's proposal to build a European missile defense system. Russia has been invited to participate in the system, but substantial questions remain, including whether Russia would be an equal partner with the Western alliance.
"In the next 10 years, the following alternatives await us - either we reach agreement on missile defense and create a full joint cooperation mechanism, or, if we don't reach a constructive agreement, a new phase of the arms race will begin," Medvedev said Tuesday, in his annual address to both houses of parliament. "And we will have to make a decision on deploying new means of attack."
In Washington, Republicans reluctant to ratify New START quickly said on Tuesday the government had dealt with some of their misgivings, raising the prospect for US Senate approval of the treaty.
President Barack Obama has insisted that completion of the treaty is a national security imperative, and he argued for the pact at a White House meeting with congressional leaders.
Republicans, led by Senator Jon Kyl, have rejected the president's contention that the treaty must be dealt with during Congress' current short year-ending session, arguing that the Senate has more pressing business and several issues on the nuclear deal remain unresolved.
But some positive comments raised the possibility that the treaty might be approved by the end of the year.
Senator Bob Corker, a Republican member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Obama administration officials responded to several matters raised by Kyl and himself about modernization of the remaining US nuclear arsenal and sufficient funds for safeguarding the stockpile.
The treaty would reduce the limits on strategic warheads held by the US and Russia to 1,550 for each country.
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