Ricketts Highlights Concerns with U.S. Nuclear Strategy Amid Growing Threat from Russia

May 16, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) raised concerns about the Biden administration’s nuclear strategy in the midst of growing threats from Vladimir Putin’s Russia, which has refused to comply with treaties they’ve signed with the United States.

“Vladimir Putin believes he’s at war with the United States, and certainly, that is the way he is behaving when you think about what he’s done in regard to our nuclear treaties,” said Ricketts during the hearing.

Ricketts went on to outline how Putin has repeatedly refused to comply with U.S.-Russia arms control agreements including the 1987 INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty, the Treaty on Open Skies, and the present-day New START Treaty, which the Biden administration unconditionally extended in February 2021.

“Russia’s history of cheating by ignoring requirements in these agreements paired with their increasingly aggressive posture on the global stage are a major national security concern,” Ricketts said after the hearing. “Ambassador Sullivan was right today when he said the old adage ‘trust, but verify’ cannot apply to our dealings with Putin. The Biden administration needs to open their eyes and ensure the U.S. remains vigilant and competitive with our nuclear strategy. It can start by accelerating efforts to modernize our nation’s nuclear forces.”

Ricketts comments came during a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee entitled “What Comes Next for U.S. Policy Towards Russia.”

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