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/ USA / Security / Multipolar World /

Lavrov slams US politicians’ narrative against extending New START Treaty as dangerous

22.11.2018 15:15

Context:

The narrative of US politicians against extending the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) after 2021 is dangerous and short-sighted, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Italy’s news agency AGI on Thursday.

"In October, seeking to ensure the freedom of actions for the US in projecting military power, US President Donald Trump announced plans of withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty," Russia’s top diplomat said.

"Someone in the US political establishment also casts doubt on the extension of the New START Treaty, which expires in 2021. We consider this ‘school of thought’ as short-sighted and dangerous," TASS quotes Lavrov .

"Returning to the philosophy of preserving peace based on the concept of mutually guaranteed destruction does not meet the reality of the 21st century," the foreign minister said. "Will the security of the US [and NATO] and Russia be enhanced when we again start looking at each other at nuclear gunpoint?"

According to Lavrov, Russia and the Unites States, the world’s major nuclear powers, bear special responsibility for maintaining global security. "We won’t understand and will be alarmed by the US leadership’s drive to reshape and actually eliminate the current international arms limitation regime."

Common challenges

Lavrov stated that the number of threats and challenges, which demand joint work of both countries ranging from anti-terror fight to settling regional crises and climate issues, is not decreasing.

Moscow is open for building "mutually beneficial partnership with Washington, but it should be based on the principles of mutual respect and taking into account interests." "We don’t see understanding of US partners now. We still expect that common sense in Washington will finally prevail," Lavrov said. "This would meet the interests of both the people of Russia and the United States, and also the entire global community."

The Russian Foreign Minister also said Moscow intends to develop constructive relations with Washington, though the anti-Russian mood is still strong among the US political elite.

"Moscow is still disposed to build normal and constructive relations with Washington. However, for now, they remain hostage to squabbles in the US political elite as many of its members do not hesitate to play the Russian card to achieve their own goals, including electoral ones," Lavrov said when asked about Moscow’s expectations following the November 6 US midterm election.

"It is because of them that the media has been spreading distrust for Russia and fueling Russophobia. And as for the constantly increasing restrictions concerning cooperation with Russia, I will not even speak about them. The US has developed a paranoid obsession with sanctions," the Russian top diplomat added.

He pointed out that Russia has been keeping an eye on the domestic political situation in the United States as it directly affected Washington’s foreign policy and the atmosphere in bilateral relations.

"The outcome of the November 6 Congress election was no surprise. The election’s results seem to reflect the complicated multidirectional processes that often times take place in American society. I don’t think it is appropriate to give further comments because it has to do with a sovereign state’s internal affairs, in which we do not interfere as a matter of principle, although we are constantly accused of doing that," the Russian foreign minister stressed.

According to Lavrov, the foundation of ties between the two countries, which was laid in the previous decades and suffered great damage under former US President Barack Obama, continues to deteriorate. "The huge potential for cooperation is not used, which hinders efforts to resolve many pressing bilateral and global issues," he concluded.

The US midterm elections took place on November 6. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 out of the 100 seats in the Senate were up for grabs. In addition, 36 states and three territories held gubernatorial elections. A number of state and local officials were also elected. Following the vote, the Democratic Party is expected to secure a majority in the House of Representatives, while the Republican Party is likely to tighten its grip on the Senate. US President Donald Trump described the elections’ outcome as a "tremendous success."

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