US to Pursue Strengthening Global Nuclear Non-Proliferation Regime

The United Sates will continue pursuing options to further bolster the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, a US Department of State official told Sputnik on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – On Sunday, The Washington Post reported, citing administration officials, that US President Barak Obama will offer extending New START arms reduction treaty for five years beyond 2021. According to the newspaper, Obama wants to make sure the next US administration does not interrupt the further reduction of nuclear weapons deployment.

"We [the United States] will continue to review our planned modernization program, assess whether there are additional steps to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our security strategy, and pursue ways to strengthen the global non-proliferation regime further,” the State Department official said.

The Obama administration has achieved progress on reducing deployed stockpiles and launchers through the New START treaty, the official noted.

“Moreover, we are always looking for additional ways to achieve progress on the President's [Obama’s] path forward while maintaining a credible deterrent for the United States, our allies, and partners,” the official added.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is unaware of reported US plans to offer Russia a five-year extension of the New START treaty.