On February 23, the US sent senior officials to meet with the Russian delegation in Geneva (Switzerland) to discuss the future of global nuclear security in the context that old agreements have expired.
Representatives of the US State Department confirmed that the dialogue focused on shaping a multilateral legal framework to control the strategic arsenals of major powers. This move comes as the international community is concerned about a new arms race after the final international legal barriers officially collapsed.
According to the plan, the US will continue to work with the Chinese delegation at the end of February 24 to expand the importance of multilateral discussions. Previously, the US also conducted bilateral rounds of negotiations with Britain and France - two other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
US officials emphasized that bringing all 5 permanent members of the Security Council to the negotiating table is a "next logical step" to ensure transparency and global strategic stability.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which was the last international legal barrier limiting the deployment of nuclear weapons, officially expired on February 5 without extension.
Russia pointed out that the collapse of this important treaty stemmed from the fault of the US when Washington continuously delayed and put forward complex conditions. Currently, the US has stated that it expects to sign a more effective document by attracting China's participation in this process.
However, Russia has put forward an extremely tough and fair stance on the US's multilateralization efforts.
Mr. Gennady Gatilov, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations in Geneva, emphasized that if the US seriously wants China to become part of the agreement, then the US's NATO allies, Britain and France, must also fully participate in this control process. Russia's stance aims to ensure a balance in the total number of nuclear warheads between military blocs, instead of letting the West gain the upper hand through strategic allies.
This meeting in Geneva is seen as a rare diplomatic effort to save the world arms control order that is seriously cracked. While the US is trying to expand its participants, Russia still persistently defends a balanced, transparent and unbiased control mechanism.
The results of the series of negotiations between nuclear powers in Switzerland in the coming days will directly determine the geopolitical stability of the whole world for decades to come.
