Biden State pick calls for extending New START with Russia

by AFP Staff Writers Washington (AFP) Jan 19, 2021 AFP

Antony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of state, said Tuesday the incoming administration would seek to extend New START, the last US arms pact with Russia, which expires February 5.

"I think we're going to seek an extension," Blinken said in response to a question at his Senate confirmation hearing.

"I know we will be coming to you very quickly, almost immediately, to discuss that," Blinken said of the Senate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last year proposed a one-year extension on New START, which caps the number of nuclear warheads between the two powers.

President Donald Trump's administration had unsuccessfully sought to expand the treaty to bring in China, which has a fast-growing military that remains significantly smaller than those of Russia and the United States.

The Trump administration late last year appeared willing to accept an extension but wanted it conditional on Russia halting military advancements in the interim period.

NATO chief says looking forward to working with Biden
Brussels (AFP) Jan 19, 2021 - NATO and the European Union are looking forward to working with US President-elect Joe Biden to strengthen transatlantic ties, the military alliance's chief said on Tuesday.

"We look forward to working with President-elect @JoeBiden to further strengthen ties between the #UnitedStates & #Europe, as we face global challenges none of us can tackle alone," NATO's Jens Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter after meeting European Council President Charles Michel.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also took part in the working dinner on the eve of Biden's swearing in.

Traditional US allies in the European Union and NATO were often shunned by outgoing US President Donald Trump throughout his divisive four years in office.

Biden has signalled he intends to repair those relationships and return to multilateralism, underscored by his nomination of seasoned diplomat Antony Blinken for secretary of state.

Stoltenberg has invited Biden to participate in a NATO summit at a date to be set, while Michel has proposed organising a special meeting with the incoming president and EU leaders.