Saturday, May 23, 2020

Early U.S.-Russia Nuclear Talks Have Begun

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian FM Sergey Lavrov in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. © Reuters / Pavel Golovkin / Pool

Defense News: New nuclear talks begin between US, Russia

WASHINGTON ― Early U.S.-Russia talks on a new nuclear arms control agreement have begun, and the two sides have agreed to an in-person dialogue once the coronavirus pandemic subsides, according to a top U.S. State Department official.

Arms control envoy Marshall Billingslea announced Thursday he is in nascent talks with his Russian counterpart, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The news comes a month after Moscow signaled readiness to include some of its latest nuclear weapons in the last remaining arms control pact between the two countries, if the U.S. agrees to extend the treaty.

“We have concrete ideas for our next interaction, and we’re finalizing the details as we speak," Billingslea said of himself and Ryabkov. "We’ve settled on a venue. And we’re working on an agenda based on the exchange of views that has taken place in our call.”

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WNU Editor: Nothing is going to happen this year when it comes to nuclear talks. The pandemic and the U.S. Presidential election will guarantee that.

8 comments:

B.Poster said...

"Nothing is going to happen this year." I wouldn't be so quick to assume that.

As for the pandemic, we are coming out of the "lockdowns." While some governors and localities are dragging their feet, I'd expect POTUS and state governors to intervene as needed to get them moving faster toward opening up. Furthermore POTUS has made it clear he will NOT support the type of "lockdowns" we've endured in the past in the event of a new outbreak. As such, the pandemic isn't going to derail negotiations.

Ending Cold War 2 is or should be the number one foreign policy goal. When a cost/benefit analysis is presented the need to do this becomes even more apparent. At the very least, every reasknable avenue whereby tensions can be reduced should be pursued. Reaching a workable agreement will help POTUS get reelected. As such, the presidential election makes it more likely not less likely that an agreement will be reached.

B.Poster said...

Obviously China will need to be on board for this to have optimal results. China's economy and standing in the world have been reduced by the pandemic. This will likely significantly increase the odds of China engaging in a good faith participation in this.

Anonymous said...

nuclear talks between Russia and USA are meaningless because of China

B.Poster said...

While I wouldn't say they'd be "meaningless" without China, China will need to be on board for optimal results up be achieved. US officials acknowledge and clearly want China on board.

With China's economy and standing in the world hurt by COVID-19 there's strong incentive for them to get involved in good faith. Furthermore an agreement is good for POTUS's reelection campaign and even if he's not reelected such an agreement would be an awesome legacy. It's got to be a good agreement.

Anonymous said...

Нет, путинский бот. Китай сейчас заменяет США в Европе. Вы отвергаете Китай только потому, что вы русские в жопе. Китай сейчас вытесняет Россию на второстепенное место в мировой политике

Anonymous said...

A person has to balance their need for vitamin D against skin cancer. Man does that look painful.

Anonymous said...

Нет, путинский бот. Китай сейчас заменяет США в Европе. Вы отвергаете Китай только потому, что вы русские в жопе. Китай сейчас вытесняет Россию на второстепенное место в мировой политике


No, Putin’s bot. China is now replacing the US in Europe. You reject China only because you are Russians in the ass. China is now ousting Russia to a secondary place in world politics


Someone has a hard on for B (Im)poster.

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