Defense and National Security US Says Russia Violates Nuclear Weapons Treaty

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Russia’s refusal to engage with the United States on resuming nuclear weapons inspections has taken another worrying turn, with the State Department telling Congress that Moscow is not complying.

We have the breakdown of the State Department report and what Russia said about the nuclear treaty.

More: Details on the strengthening alliance between the United States and South Korea and Ukraine’s top prosecutor pushing for the prosecution of Russian war crimes.

Meet Defense & National Security, your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, I’m Brad Dress.

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United States: Russia in non-compliance with the nuclear treaty

The State Department has accused Russia of failing to comply with New START treaty obligations, including not resuming on-site inspections of nuclear weapons and refusing to meet and discuss the treaty.

The New START treaty allows the United States and Russia to conduct inspections of their respective nuclear weapons, but these have been halted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A November meeting in Egypt called for the Bilateral Advisory Commission to resume inspections was postponed by Russia and has yet to be resumed by Moscow.

Violations: The State Department has raised concerns before, but now officially accuses Russia of violating the treaty, bringing the charge in a report to Congress.

But the State Department says Russia “has a clear path back to full compliance.” “All Russia needs to do is allow inspection activities on its territory, as it has done for years under the New START treaty, and come together in a session of the Commission bilateral advisory,” a spokesperson told The Hill. “There is nothing preventing Russian inspectors from going to the United States and carrying out inspections.”

Nuclear Threats: Russian President Vladimir Putin and his allies have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons amid numerous setbacks for his military in the war in Ukraine.

Last fall, Putin even said that the threats of nuclear weapons were “not a bluff”.

The situation has gotten so bad that the Doomsday clock has passed just 90 seconds to midnight – for the first time ever.

Congressional backlash: After receiving the report, Republican lawmakers quickly condemned Russia for the violations.

GOP Sense. Roger Wicker (Ms.) and Deb Fischer (Neb.), along with House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), said the Russia was to be held responsible for the violations.

“We urge President Biden to direct the Department of Defense to prepare for a future where Russia may deploy large numbers of warheads, well beyond the limits of the New START treaty,” they said in a statement. spouse.

Read the full story here.

Ukraine’s top prosecutor joins US in legal battle

kyiv’s top law enforcement official, Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, wants to punish Russia in the courtroom for war crimes.

“The instruments to deliver justice should be as powerful as the weapons we receive to fight for our independence,” Kostin told The Hill after Western allies announced tanks for Ukraine.

The push for a special tribunal: Ukraine is pushing to prosecute the tens of thousands of Russian war crimes in an international tribunal.

Kyiv also wants to establish a special tribunal to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable for last February’s invasion.

Kostin is in Washington this week to meet with Attorney General Merrick Garland and other administration officials to support legal accountability against Russia. Biden administration officials have said they are engaging in conversations with Ukraine.

A huge challenge: The number of war crimes is expected to increase as the war drags on, and Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office is already investigating at least 67,000 documented cases.

Among the crimes are 155 identified cases of sexual abuse and abduction of Ukrainian children, of whom around 15,000 were deported to Russia. Some cases are already before the courts, Kostin said, even in absentia. “If we’re talking about justice for survivors, it’s important for them to know that this case is before the courts,” he said.

Learn more here.

The United States will send more weapons and hold exercises in South Korea

The United States is strengthening its alliance with South Korea amid growing tensions with North Korea in the Indo-Pacific region.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reached an agreement with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jong-sup, to increase the scope and size of live training exercises to deter North Korean aggression.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Austin said the announcements showed “our unwavering commitment to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula” for the past 70 years. “As we look to the next 70 years, we will continue to work towards our vision of a stable and secure Korean Peninsula,” he said.

More planes and exercises: Both countries have also pledged to deploy more US strategic assets, with Austin saying he “expects more” fifth-generation planes like the F-35 in South Korea.

Expanded joint military exercises are also expected, including for this year. The two countries agreed to strengthen the exercises after finding that they serve as an effective deterrent against North Korea. The military exercises continued last year after a hiatus following the pandemic and former President Trump’s negotiations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean aggression: North Korea fired a record number of missile tests last year, including several intercontinental ballistic missiles.

These have alarmed not only South Korea, but also Japan, which is on the way to increasing its defense budget and is now seeking offensive weapons and military equipment.

Kim has shown no sign of abating in his aggression, pushing for an exponential increase in nuclear weapons earlier this year.

Read this story here.

THE APPOINTMENT FOR TOMORROW

The Center for Presidential and Congressional Study will discuss the new book, “No Limits: The Inside Story of China’s War With the West” with author Andrew Small at 9 a.m. ET. The Center for Strategic and International Studies will speak about the latest United Nations report on global human trafficking at 3 p.m. ET for a hybrid event. Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins the Atlantic Council for a virtual event at 11:30 a.m. ET to discuss support for Ukraine. Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates discusses Russia, China and international affairs with The Washington Post Live at 1 p.m. ET. George Washington University hosts Leonid Volkov, chief of staff to Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny, to discuss the war in Ukraine and the Russian reaction. The event begins at 4 p.m. on the GWU campus in Washington, D.C.

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That’s all for today! Check out The Hill’s Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. Until tomorrow!

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