Members of the US Congress have issued open warnings to US President Donald Trump about the threat of the Russian-US Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty expiring.
The agreement expires on February 5.
“I urge President Trump to work with Russia to renew the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and negotiate arms control with China“, said Senator Edward Markey, who also introduced his resolution to return the US to arms control.
The lawmaker added that the current White House administration has a historic opportunity to begin high-level negotiations on a new agreement and prevent a dangerous and costly nuclear arms race.
Jean Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for his part outlined the challenges ahead for global nuclear security.
“These challenges loom large as the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty – the last legal limit on Russian nuclear weapons – is set to expire soon. There are leaders in both parties who recognize the gravity of this moment. Among them is President Trump, who has a long history of concern about nuclear war,“ Shaheen noted.
The Democrat warned that abandoning the last remaining measures without a plan would give Moscow and Beijing a strategic advantage, spark a new nuclear arms race and increase the risk of a devastating nuclear mistake.
The lower house of Congress also echoed the senators' position. Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts called for urgent action, emphasizing the need for U.S. leadership on nuclear disarmament.
“The world is still moving in the wrong direction on nuclear disarmament and arms control. If we are to avoid catastrophe, the United States must take the lead in achieving a global freeze on nuclear testing, production, and deployment,“ he said.
The congressman also said that every dollar invested in nuclear weapons brings humanity closer to the brink of destruction and “strengthens the forces of evil in the world“.