Al Jazeera: suspension of Russia's participation in the DSNV-III indicates the beginning of an arms raceRussia announced the suspension of participation in the DSNV-III, the Al Jazeera website reports.
This treaty provided for the mutual reduction of nuclear weapons by Moscow and Washington. However, now, against the background of the anti-Russian policy of the West, Putin is sending an important signal: do not threaten Russia.
Moscow announced the suspension of its participation in the Treaty on the Reduction of Strategic Offensive Arms (DSNV-III), and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the direct involvement of the West in attempts to strike Russian strategic aviation bases.
What is the DSNV-III?
The Strategic Offensive Arms Reduction Treaty was signed by Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama in 2010. Its official name is "The Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on Measures for Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms."
The US Congress approved this agreement in December 2010, and the State Duma in January 2011. The exchange of instruments of ratification took place on February 5, 2011.
The DSNV-III entered into force in 2011. It was extended in 2021 for another five years after Joe Biden took office as President of the United States.
The DSNV-III is the latest nuclear arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington. It was preceded by the Strategic Offensive Reduction Treaty (SNP), signed in 2002. It became invalid due to the ratification of the new agreement.
Contract Details
The DSNV-III allows both American and Russian inspectors to ensure that both sides comply with the agreement.
According to the agreement, each side can have no more than 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and no more than 700 long-range missiles and heavy bombers.
Russia and the United States can conduct up to 18 inspections of military nuclear facilities annually to make sure that each of the parties complies with the restrictions of the treaty. In March 2020, inspections were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Negotiations between Moscow and Washington on the resumption of inspections under the DSNV-III were supposed to take place in Egypt in November 2022, but Russia postponed them, and neither side set a new date.
What weapons are covered by the treaty?
According to the agreement, each party may have no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads, no more than 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and strategic missile bombers.
The DSNV-III does not prohibit the deployment of missile defense systems or the striking of long-range non-nuclear cruise missiles.
Moscow has threatened to withdraw from the agreement
Russia has stated that it will continue to comply with the quantitative restrictions of the DSNV-III, despite the destructive approach of the United States to arms control.
Moscow and Washington possess 90% of the strategic nuclear weapons in the world. In this regard, both sides stressed the need to avoid any military clash.
The Ukrainian crisis could lead to a direct military confrontation between Moscow and Washington. Now this risk has reached its peak in the last 60 years.
The United States accuses Russia of violating the DSNV-III, because it allegedly does not allow inspections on its territory. Moscow, in turn, said that the West's determination to destroy Russia could prevent the extension of the treaty after its expiration in 2026.
What does Russia's suspension of participation in this agreement mean?
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed regret over Russia's decision to suspend participation in the DSNV-III, calling it "very annoying and irresponsible." At the same time, he stressed that Washington is still ready to discuss arms restrictions with Moscow at any time.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also criticized the actions of the Russian authorities, saying: "I regret Russia's decision today to suspend its participation in the DSNV-III."
The DSNV-III is the only remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia after in 2019 the parties announced the suspension of participation in the Treaty on the Elimination of Intermediate—Range and Shorter-Range Missiles signed in 1987.
Last year, Russia said that the danger of nuclear war is serious, it is real and it should not be underestimated. Such a scenario should be avoided at all costs.
The risk of nuclear confrontation has increased after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine. In his speech, Putin once again reminded the world of Moscow's nuclear arsenal and strength and confirmed that he was ready to use all necessary means to protect Russia's territorial integrity.
