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Statement by Minister Simon Coveney on the Extension of the New START Treaty

I welcome the announcement from both the Russian Federation and the United States that they will extend the New START Treaty for a further five years. This Treaty, which places limits on both countries’ nuclear arsenals, is critical for international and European security. It also contributes to the implementation of both countries’ nuclear disarmament obligations under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

I encourage the Russian Federation, the United States and other countries to engage actively on broader follow-on agreements, including to limit and reduce the stockpile of nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons.