Russia’s disregard for nuclear transparency and stability makes model U.S. leadership more essential than ever

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, more than two dozen nuclear arms control organizations, former military and diplomatic officials, and national security experts sent a letter to President Biden calling on the United States to continue modeling nuclear transparency as a responsible world power despite Russia’s “deeply troubling” suspension of the 2010 New START treaty.

The letter, available here in full, concludes: 

“The accelerating trends toward greater nuclear salience, brinkmanship, and opacity are not in America’s strategic interest. We must sustain our efforts to prevent escalation and proliferation and maintain a pathway to engagement with those countries that have the ability to threaten the United States and the world with nuclear weapons. We urge you to ensure the United States continues to lead the world in modeling responsible and constructive nuclear behavior, for our own security and in the growing battle for the hearts and minds of friends, allies, and partners around the world.”

Organizations signed on include Global Zero, Nuclear Threat Initiative, Ploughshares Fund, Arms Control Association, Federation of American Scientists, Foreign Policy for America, Union of Concerned Scientists, Win Without War, and Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation. 

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