麻豆传媒

There is widespread uproar today over yesterday鈥檚 press conference between US President Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Trump鈥檚 apparent repudiation of his own intelligence agencies鈥� findings of Russian cyber-interference in the American election was called bizarre, shameful and disgraceful even by politicians in Trump鈥檚 own party. A former CIA director called the comments .

But the press conference may have contained one ray of light. In a little-noticed remark, Putin said he gave Trump 鈥渁 note with a number of specific suggestions鈥� about disarmament. 鈥淭his includes the extension of the Strategic Offensive Arms Limitation Treaty.鈥�

By this, he meant the 2010 New Start agreement limiting the two countries to 1550 warheads each. It expires in 2021 but has the option of being extended another five years. According to nuclear expert Joe Cirincione, 鈥渁 simple exchange of diplomatic notes between the parties鈥� could do it.

Russia appears to have taken the first step. It鈥檚 unclear how Trump responded to Putin but at the press conference he said 鈥渋n terms of stopping [nuclear proliferation], we have to do it 鈥� ultimately, that鈥檚 probably the most important thing that we can be working on.鈥�

from Russia and the EU in April, extending the New Start agreement is important. It is the only remaining arms agreement between the two powers that involves direct inspections of each other鈥檚 weapons. Russia and the US hold 92 per cent of the world鈥檚 nukes.

Trump鈥檚 move

Directly inspecting each other鈥檚 weapons not only verifies compliance with the treaty but is also vital for reducing military uncertainties between the two sides, making false alarms and accidental nuclear exchange less likely.

Putin seemed to acknowledge this on Monday, calling on both sides 鈥渢o interact on the disarmament agenda, military and technical cooperation.鈥�

Unfortunately, says Cirincione, Putin also appeared to link the extension of New Start with the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treaty, which limits each side鈥檚 medium-range missiles. This treaty is also in limbo, with both sides accusing the other of violations.

Putin also mentioned US systems designed to shoot down incoming missiles, which Russia claims undermine nuclear deterrence, and the 鈥渁genda of non-placement of weapons in space鈥�. Trump has created a Space Force to address military issues in orbit.

鈥淚鈥檓 afraid that the outlook is cloudy with a chance of nuclear rain, if New Start extension is indeed linked to a resolution of all these other issues,鈥� says Cirincione. He notes with concern that Trump鈥檚 national security advisor, John Bolton 鈥� who is ideologically opposed to arms treaties 鈥� stood outside the door as the two presidents met this week in Helsinki, Finland.

At the end of the press conference Putin handed Trump a souvenir football from the recent World Cup in Russia and said 鈥渢he ball is in your court鈥�. It is: the world鈥檚 nuclear future could depend on whether Trump returns Putin鈥檚 note, and talks begin.