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Ruthless Love

Biden to seek full 5-year extension of nuclear pact with Russia

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President Joe Biden has decided to accept Russia's offer to extend the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty for the full five years, in what could be a bright spot in an otherwise tense relationship in the opening days of the new administration, according to two administration officials.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which caps Washington and Moscow's deployed nuclear weapons at 1,550 each, is set to expire on Feb. 5 unless both sides agree to keep it in force.

The news, which was first reported by The Washington Post, comes after Biden pledged during the campaign to save the pact, one of the last vestiges of Cold War-style diplomacy designed to curb the spread of atomic arms.

The treaty, which provides for regular on-site inspections of the other side's arsenal, is considered an insurance policy against a full-blown arms race.

Russia first offered to extend the treaty without preconditions in early 2020. But as a precondition, the Trump administration sought to negotiate a new agreement that paved the way for a follow-on treaty that covered more weapons, including tactical nuclear weapons that are not included in New START.

Those efforts were not successful in the face of Russian resistance and before the administration ran out of time.

The news that Biden will pursue a full extension was lauded by leading arms control advocates.

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