U.S. Missile Defense Gives Russia A Way Out Of START

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks to the press in Moscow on Tuesday, April 6, 2010. Lavrov says that Moscow reserves the right to withdraw from the new arms control treaty with the United States if it sees that perspective U.S. missile defense systems threaten its security. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Lavrov: Russia May Pull Out Of Nuke Deal If U.S. Expands Missile Defense -- Foreign Policy

It appears that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Lavrov isn't quite ready to pop the champagne on the new nuclear arms reduction agreement due to be signed in Prague this week:

Russia will have the right to exit the accord if “the U.S.’s build-up of its missile defense strategic potential in numbers and quality begins to considerably affect the efficiency of Russian strategic nuclear forces,” Lavrov told reporters in Moscow today.

The issue of missile defense was the major sticking point in negotiations over the treaty, particularly after the United States announced plans to build new facilities in Bulgaria and Romania.

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More News On The Opting Out Clause For The Russians On Missile Defense

Russia 'could opt out of nuclear disarmament deal' -- BBC
US hopes to ease Russia fears on missile defense -- AP
Russia praises anti-proliferation pact , but reserves right to abandon it -- Deutsche Welle
Lavrov: Russia may quit new arms treaty if U.S. missile plans excessive -- Xinhuanet
Russia warns it may yet pull out of nuclear arms pact -- Irish Times
Russia Prepares to Outline Terms for Withdrawal from Treaty; White House Says Nothing Unusual About That -- ABC News
Russia: New START Clearly Links Missile Reduction with Missile Defense -- Heritage Foundation
Russia seeks limits on U.S. arms after pact -- Washington Post/Reuters
Q&A: New Start -- BBC
Atomic issue rises up the agenda -- Financial Times
START treaty on nuclear weapons -- a first step to reset US-Russia relations -- Christian Science Monitor
In Eastern Europe, Pact With Russians Raises Old Specters -- International Herald Tribune
A Fresh START on Arms Control -- Anatoly Serdyukov, Wall Street Journal