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US to seek five years extension to key arms control treaty

WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- US President Joe Biden plans to extend the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) with Russia for further five years.
"I can confirm that the United States intends to seek a five-year extension of New START as the treaty permits," White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday.
"The president has long been clear that the New START Treaty is in the national security interest of the United States." She argued that this extension makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial as it is at this time.
"New START is the only remaining treaty constraining Russian nuclear forces and is an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries," she clarified.
The New START Treaty expires on February 5.
In a separate statement, Chief Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby expressed support to the plan.
"President Biden's decision to seek a five-year extension of New START advances the nation's defense. Russia's compliance with the treaty has served our national security interests well, and Americans are much safer with New START intact and extended," he explained.
He noted that the US cannot afford to lose New START's intrusive inspection and notification tools.
"Failing to swiftly extend New START would weaken America's understanding of Russia's long-range nuclear forces," he said.
Kirby added that extending the treaty's limitations on stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons until 2026 allows time and space for the two nations to explore new verifiable arms control arrangements that could further reduce risks to Americans. (end) asj.ibi