Page 10 - The Indian EYE 031723

OPINION MARCH 17, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

What are the implications of the

new START suspension by Russia?

The Russian decision can be described as symbolic and strategic in nature. It wants to pressurize the

West by sending an ambiguous message strategically. In the entire episode, Russia has tried not to
appear aggressive and has attempted to put all the blame on the US

RAJIV NAYAN &
NIRANJAN CHANDRASHEKHAR OAK

n 21 February 2023, Russian
President Vladimir Putin, at
Othe end of his Presidential
Address to the Federal Assembly,
announced Russia’s suspension of
its participation in the new Strategic
Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
He immediately clarified that the
break did not mean withdrawal from
the Treaty. The announcement pro-
voked a global debate about the fate
of this Treaty and the status of arms
control in general. The word ‘suspen-
sion’ puzzled many when discussions
on the announcement’s consequenc-
es started.

What the International Law
Says:
It must be understood that Rus-
sia was not abandoning the Treaty
before its expiry date (in 2026) or the Putin justified his actions by claiming an asymmetry of strategic weapons forces between Russia and
date for the next extension. For with- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (File photo)
drawal, the Treaty has a provision in
Article XIV.3 which states: Law of Treaties, reads as follows: pension of any particular provision, hensions that Russia might take out
Each Party shall, in exercis-
ing its national sovereignty, have the • Unless the Treaty otherwise pro- though the long speech detailed the non-deployed weapons from storage
and deploy them.
vides or the parties otherwise
circumstances which forced Russia to
right to withdraw from this Treaty if agree, the suspension of the opera- take action on the suspension. Seem- However, Putin justified his ac-
it decides that extraordinary events tion of a treaty under its provisions ingly, the entire Treaty has been put tions by claiming an asymmetry of
related to the subject matter of this or in accordance with the present on hold. However, Putin has not strategic weapons forces between
Treaty have jeopardized its supreme Convention: made any provocative statements, Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty
interests. It shall give notice of its de- • releases the parties between which which could hamper the re-opera- Organization (NATO). He highlight-
cision to the other Party. Such notice the operation of the Treaty is sus- tionalization of the Treaty. Article ed that the US is not the only nuclear
shall contain a statement of the ex- pended from the obligation to 72.2 of the Vienna Convention ap- weapon country in NATO, but that
traordinary events the notifying Party perform the Treaty in their mutual pears to be guiding Russian thinking. France and the United Kingdom
regards as having jeopardized its su- relations during the period of the are also nuclear weapon countries.
preme interests. This Treaty shall ter- suspension; What Suspension Means While the New START was a bilater-
minate three months from the date • does not otherwise affect the legal The suspension of the Treaty al treaty, Russia faced a threat from
of receipt by the other Party of the relations between the parties es- does not entail any material changes the entire NATO having more than
aforementioned notice, unless the tablished by the Treaty. on the ground. Putin underscored in one nuclear state.
notice specifies a later date. • During the period of the suspen- his Presidential Address that he had Thus, the moot question is
Although there is no mention of
the term ‘suspension’ in the Treaty, sion the parties shall refrain from signed a decree to put “new ground- whether Russia will deploy weapons
acts tending to obstruct the re-
based strategic missile systems on
from the store? It does not appear
the announcement of the suspension sumption of the operation of the combat duty”. This might have sent so. Article 72.2 of the Vienna Con-
of the New START has a legal con- Treaty. a signal that Putin was serious about vention may restrain Russia from
notation in international law. Article Did Putin mention which ele- escalating nuclear weapons de- deploying more strategic nuclear
72, titled ‘Consequences of the sus- ments of the Treaty Russia intends to ployment in the near future. Some weapons than permitted in the New
pension of the operation of a treaty’, suspend? He did not specify the sus- Western analysts expressed appre- Continued on next page... >>
of the Vienna Convention on the

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