NATO has called on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the START treaty to reduce its nuclear arsenal, the alliance said in a statement today.

“We note with concern that Russia has not fulfilled its legally binding obligations, including inspections, and we urge it to fulfill its treaty obligations,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tweeted.

#NATO Allies agree #New start The treaty promotes international stability. We note with concern that #Russia failed to comply with legally binding obligations, including on inspections, and called on Russia to fulfill its obligations under the Treaty. https://t.co/TgHp5ZYFaZ

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 3, 2023

Allies agree that New START promotes international stability by limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear forces, according to a NATO statement. Therefore, they note with concern that Russia has not fulfilled its legally binding obligations under the New START Treaty.

Russia’s refusal to convene a meeting of the Bilateral Advisory Committee (BAC) within the dates set by the Treaty and to facilitate U.S. inspection activities on its soil beginning in August 2022 hinders the United States from exercising important rights under the Treaty and undermines the U.S. ability to adequately verify Russia’s compliance with the Treaty’s central limits . The United States is abiding by the New START Treaty.

NATO Allies continue to view effective arms control as an important contribution to achieving their security goals. The New START Treaty is in the interests of the national security of all states, including NATO allies. NATO allies welcomed the February 2021 agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation to extend START by five years. However, Russia’s failure to comply undermines its sustainability.

NATO calls on Russia to fulfill its treaty obligations by facilitating inspections on Russian soil and calls on it to return to the negotiating table within the BBC.

Source: Reuters, NATO.