“The United States deploys 662 intercontinental missiles and 1,419 nuclear warheads in accordance with New Start treaty”

The US State Department reveals that the United States is deploying 662 intercontinental missiles and 1,419 nuclear warheads, respecting the terms of the New Start treaty, in which Russia no longer participates since February.

By Le Figaro with AFP

Published on 05/16/2023 at 08:35update on 05/16/2023 at 08:48

The United States unveiled this Monday, May 16 evening the figures of their strategic arsenal of nuclear deterrencesaying he wants to respect the nuclear disarmament treaty New Start and calling on Russia, which has suspended its participation, to do the same.

As of March 1, the United States has deployed a total of 662 intercontinental ballistic missiles – a figure including missiles aboard submarines and bombers – with 1,419 nuclear warheads and 800 launchers, according to a State Department statement. . “The United States calls on Russia to meet its legal obligations by rejoining the New Start agreement and the stabilization, transparency and verification measures it contains“, adds the press release.

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Russia suspended its participation in the New Start treaty in February, in retaliation for Western aid in the war in Ukraine. This decision was denounced in unison by the Western powers. Signed in 2010, the New Start treaty is the last bilateral nuclear disarmament agreement between Russians and Americans. Moscow had already announced in early August suspending planned inspections of its military sites.

The New Start agreement limits the arsenals of the two nuclear powers to a maximum of 1,550 deployed strategic offensive warheads each, a reduction of nearly 30% compared to the previous limit set in 2002. It also limits the number of launchers and bombers heavy at 800. The New Start treaty provides in particular for checks on both sides of the arsenals, which had been suspended by the Covid-19 epidemic. The administration of US President Joe Biden had tried to revive them, in vain.