Biden: U.S. Ready to Negotiate with Russia on Nuclear Weapons Control

Ahead of the 10th Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, President Joe Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to manage its nuclear arsenal responsibly and to continue working toward the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons.

“Nuclear war cannot be won and should never be fought, which is why my administration has made it a priority to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our national security strategy,” President Joe Biden said in a statement released by the White House on Monday.

“The NPT has always relied on meaningful, reciprocal arms limitations between the United States and the Russian Federation,” Biden stressed. – Even at the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were able to work together to maintain our shared responsibility to ensure strategic stability.”

Biden said his administration is ready to rapidly negotiate a new arms control structure to replace the New START treaty when it expires in 2026.

“But negotiations require a partner acting in good faith,” Biden said. – And Russia’s brutal and unprovoked aggression in Ukraine has destroyed peace in Europe and represents an attack on fundamental principles of the international order. In this context, Russia must demonstrate that it is ready to resume work on nuclear arms control with the United States.

The document also holds China accountable under the NPT as a nuclear-weapon state and a member of the so-called nuclear P5. China’s participation in the talks, the document said, would reduce the risk of miscalculation and eliminate destabilizing military dynamics.

Biden also mentioned the U.S. proposal to return to full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, developed in coordination with U.S. allies and regional partners to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

“We are working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure that the AUKUS partnership between Australia, Britain and the United States meets the highest nonproliferation standards,” Biden said in a statement. – “And we are restoring our leadership in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including our commitment to establish the IAEA Additional Protocol as the universal standard for both international safeguards and nuclear supply agreements, and continuing our efforts to limit the spread of sensitive enrichment and reprocessing technologies.

“At this time of uncertainty and turmoil on the world stage, reaffirming our shared commitment to the fundamental principles of the global nonproliferation regime is more important than ever,” the president concluded. – The world can be assured that my administration will continue to support the NPT and seek to strengthen the nonproliferation architecture that protects people around the world.”