Russia to quit new nuke pact if strategic balance threatened

Russia on Tuesday warned the US that it reserves the right to quit a new bilateral nuclear arms pact.

Moscow: Russia on Tuesday warned the US that it
reserves the right to quit a new bilateral nuclear arms pact,
a replacement of Cold War era nuke reduction treaty if
America`s missile defence plans excessively threatens the
current strategic balance.

The nuclear arms cut pact between Russia and US is
slated to be signed on Thursday in Prague by Presidents Barack
Obama and Dmitry Medvedev.

"Russia has the right to withdraw from the strategic
nuclear weapons treaty if a quantitative and qualitative
increase in US strategic missile defence significantly
influences the effectiveness of Russian strategic nuclear
forces," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a specially
convened press conference ahead of the signing in the Czech
capital.

The new treaty is to replace the Soviet era
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expired on
December 5, 2009.

He said that there will be a special declaration as
part of the package recognising Russia`s right to quit the
treaty `based on our own assessment` of the US anti-missile
capabilities, and the recognition of this right by the US in a
separate statement.

Lavrov said that American plans for a missile shield
at this juncture do not pose any threat to Moscow`s strategic
interests, but he did not rule out that in future the plans
could eventually constitute a threat.

"If our military experts perceive that the (US)
strategic missile defence shield posing a risk for Russia`s
strategic nuclear forces, then we will have the right to use
the conditions included in the treaty," he elaborated.

Lavrov also underscored that unlike the previous
`lopsided` treaty signed by the USSR at the end of the Cold
War, the New START will be based on `strict parity`.

The new 10-year pact stipulates the reduction of
nuclear warheads to 1,550 for each side, with the maximum
number of 800 delivery vehicles.

Unlike in the now defunct earlier treaty, the new
pact would allow both the former Cold War rivals to
independently decide the composition of their nuclear triad.

Under the deal, which will have a validity term of
ten years unless it is superseded by another strategic arms
reduction agreement, strategic offensive weapons are to be
based solely on the national territories of Russia and the
United States.

Lavrov expressed hope that the new pact will be
ratified by the Russian State Duma and the US Congress by the
end of April.

PTI

Zee News App: Read latest news of India and world, bollywood news, business updates, cricket scores, etc. Download the Zee news app now to keep up with daily breaking news and live news event coverage.