Washington Ready to Discuss “Unconditionally” with Moscow and Beijing on Nuclear Non-Proliferation

“We are entering a new era, which requires new strategies”: a senior adviser to United States President Joe Biden detailed, on Friday, the American strategy in terms of nuclear weapons, insisting on the desire for dialogue with the Russia and China.

The United States is ready to respect the limitations on the number of nuclear warheads set by the New Start non-proliferation agreement, binding it with Moscow, “as long as Russia does the same”, said Jake Sullivan, adviser to the national security of the White House.

Russia has suspended its participation in this treaty, the last bilateral agreement of its kind binding the two old rivals of the cold war. This agreement expires in 2026, but the United States is “ready” to discuss with Russia what will happen after that date.

Any discussion of non-proliferation commitments after the expiration of the New Start Treaty will, however, have to take into account the development of China’s arsenal, stressed Jake Sullivan. He assured that despite the high tensions between the two superpowers, the American executive was ready to discuss nuclear non-proliferation “without preconditions” with China, while noting that Beijing “had not shown a will to make it so far.

‘Rivalry’ must not degenerate into ‘conflict’, he repeated, the mantra of the Biden administration when it comes to relations with China, which recently declined Washington’s invitation for a meeting between ministers defense of both countries.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China has an arsenal of 350 nuclear warheads – far behind Russia (4,477) and the United States (3,708). But Beijing could have 1,500 by 2035, according to Washington.

China, so far, has not wanted to communicate with the United States on the “size” of its arsenal, nor on its policy in the matter, underlined Jake Sullivan. However, Washington does not intend to embark on an arms race, according to Joe Biden’s adviser.

The United States is “modernizing” its nuclear arsenal, but “doesn’t need to increase it”, he said. The American objective is not to outnumber the warheads held by their rivals, according to him. When it comes to nuclear deterrence, Washington’s strategy is not “more, but better”.

Jake Sullivan also called for deepening the multilateral dialogue between the five nuclear powers and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: the United States, China, France, the United Kingdom and Russia, a group also known as the name “P5”. For example, he judged that a generalized system of reciprocal warning within this group, on missile launches, would be “common sense”.

“It’s a small step that would reduce the risk of misinterpretations in times of crisis,” said Jake Sullivan, who also discussed the threats posed by North Korea and Iran’s nuclear program.