The U.S. admits strengthening the combat readiness of nuclear forces if Russia refuses to comply with the START Treaty

The United States has allowed for a strengthening of military readiness in case Russia refuses to comply with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). This was reported on December 19 by the Deputy National Security Advisor to the American President John Feiner.

"We are ready for further steps to strengthen our combat readiness if Russia continues to 'violate' the START Treaty and refuses to engage," RIA Novosti quoted him as saying during a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for Analysis (listed as a foreign agent and recognized as an organization whose activities are undesirable on Russian territory).

He also said that the U.S. had introduced new measures to reduce risks and increase responsibility in the field of nuclear weapons.

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Earlier, on December 19, Feiner said that the United States is ready for a dialog with the Russian side on the issue of nuclear risks.

On December 11, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that further cooperation in the field of nuclear disarmament with states unfriendly to Russia has become politically unacceptable.

On December 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was not tightening its nuclear doctrine, but improving it. To all this, he added that the country now needs to improve the "Oreshnik" missile system. The head of state also noted that a sufficient number of modern weapons systems practically replaces the use of nuclear weapons.

November 19, Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine of Russia. The updated document included amendments that the head of state announced in September. In particular, for the first time a definition of a potential adversary against whom Russia is conducting nuclear deterrence was introduced.

Meanwhile, on November 15, the magazine Arms Control Today, which is published by the American Arms Control Association (ACA), wrote that the uncertainty surrounding the START Treaty with Russia will become an urgent priority for the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

Before that, on September 24, the coordinator for strategic communications in the White House National Security Council John Kirby said that the American side still considers the START Treaty an important document.

On February 21, 2023, the Russian side suspended its participation in the START treaty, which expires in 2026. This decision was announced by the Russian president. He emphasized that Russia was not withdrawing from the treaty, but it should understand how the START Treaty would take into account the arsenals not only of the United States, but also of the other NATO nuclear powers - Great Britain and France.