(TheConservative News.org) – On Wednesday, President Joe Biden was asked about Putin’s decision to withdraw from New START, Biden appears confused and responds with “I don’t have time” before walking away.
New Start was enacted in 2011 under the Obama administration, and limits the number of deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons the U.S. and Russia can have.
In addition, it permits the two countries to conduct inspections of each other’s weapons sites.
A reporter asked Biden,”Any reaction to Putin saying he’s pulling out of New START!?”
Biden responded with “I don’t have time” before walking away.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken described Putin’s formalization of the roughly two years both states lacked cooperation on nuclear-related topics as “deeply unfortunate and irresponsible.”
“We will be watching carefully to see what Russia actually does,” Blinken said. “We will, of course, make sure that … we are posturing appropriately for the security of our own country and that of our allies.”
Russia’s withdrawal from the treaty will eliminate the last remaining constraint on the size of the two countries’ nuclear arsenals, which could lead to a new nuclear arms race. This would increase the risk of nuclear conflict, particularly as tensions between the United States and Russia continue to be high.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Newsmax on Tuesday that Russia pulling out from the strategic arms reduction treaty “should scare everybody.”
Mast told “Eric Bolling The Balance,” that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision will keep the United States in the dark regarding the amount, location, and technology of the Kremlin’s nuclear weapons.
Putin’s saying, “I’m not interested in America deterring Russia, or the other way around,” Mast explained, stressing Russia will not disclose how many nukes they “have out there on a wing of an aircraft, or in a submarine, or in a land-based system.”
“We’re not going to tell you what their range is, whether they’re tactical or strategic,” he continued. “We’re not going to tell you if we’re developing new ones … and we’re not going to let allow anybody to come in and inspect these things.”
