US to Halt Data Exchange on Nuclear Weapons with Russia

The United States will no longer provide information to Russia regarding its strategic nuclear weapons. This was announced by John Plumb, assistant to the Secretary of the Pentagon, during a meeting of the House Armed Services Committee. The broadcast was aired on YouTube.

According to him, due to the expiration of a six-month deadline for data exchange under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START, START-3), Washington reached out to Moscow for current information, but the Russian side responded that data would not be provided.

“As a diplomatic countermeasure, the US will also not provide any information,” said Plumb.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal, citing a representative of the US presidential administration, reports that this move is the first step taken by Washington in response to Russia's suspension of its participation in the START treaty.

“Our goal is to encourage Russia to return to the treaty,” the source said.

The START-3 treaty came into force on February 5, 2011. The agreement stipulates that Russia and the US reduce their strategic nuclear forces to 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines, and strategic bombers, 1550 warheads, and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Russia's intention to suspend participation in the START treaty during his speech at the Federal Assembly on February 21. The following day, the relevant bill was approved by both chambers of parliament, and the State Department announced its readiness to negotiate with Moscow on this issue. The US has called the decision to suspend Russia's participation in the New START “unfair and irresponsible,” but on February 28, Putin confirmed it.