🗞️ Current AffairsUPSC 2011India and its Neighbourhood

The “New START” treaty was in the news. What is this treaty?

aIt is a bilateral strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation
bIt is a multilateral energy security cooperation treaty among the members of the East Asia Summit
cIt is a treaty between the Russian Federation and the European Union for the energy security cooperation
dIt is a multilateral cooperation treaty among the BRICS countries for the promotion of trade
✓ Correct answer: a) It is a bilateral strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation
ExplanationNew START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a bilateral nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, signed in 2010 and enforced from 2011. The treaty caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 per country and imposes limits on intercontinental bal- listic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers.Serving as a successor to the original START I treaty (1991), it continued the nuclear arms control initiatives established during the Cold War.In 2021, the treaty was extended for an additional five years, remaining in effect until Feb 4th, 2026. Option (b) is incorrect: The East Asia Summit deals with re- gional economic and security issues, but New START is unre- lated to energy security or multilateral agreements.Option (c) is incorrect: Russia and the EU have energy agree- ments, but New START is strictly a nuclear arms control treaty between Russia and the USA.Option (d) is incorrect: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) focuses on economic cooperation, not nuclear arms reduction

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