Nuclear security

Outgoing Obama wants extension of Russia nuclear treaty to thwart future changes - report

US President Barack Obama is reportedly considering offering Russia the chance to extend the New START treaty regarding the deployment of nuclear weapons. He wants to make sure the pact is prolonged so his successor’s administration cannot potentially cancel it.

The New START treaty, which was signed in April 2010 in Prague and came into effect 10 months later, is not due to expire until February 2021. The pact states that the Cold War foes, Russia and the US, must reduce their strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 per side by 2018.