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Non-public US-Russia dialogue needed to develop treaty to replace New START — expert

TASS · 🇺🇸 public United States · · 322 words
US-Russia-China Strategic Relations Arms Control Diplomacy
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What to know about US-Russia-China Strategic Relations

Thomas Countryman of the American Arms Control Association suggests that non-public security consultations between Russia and the US could eventually lead to a replacement for the expired New START treaty. The article also notes the US's preference for trilateral agreements involving China, a move China has rejected as unfair.

Propaganda risk 20%
Claims checked 8
Techniques found 1
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center100%
Right0%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Conducting non-public security consultations could help Russia and the United States eventually develop a new agreement to replace the expired Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START), the Chairman of…

Why it matters

"I think prospects for a new treaty right now are very low," the expert, who served as Acting US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security in 2016-2017, noted while speaking about the prospects for Moscow and Washington to develop a…

Common ground

As Countryman noted, the aforementioned association hopes that Russia and the US will "start talking to each other." "I just mean talking, I do not mean a strategic stability dialogue with big capital letters and lots of publicity, but quiet discussion about…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Thomas Countryman of the American Arms Control Association suggests that non-public security consultations between Russia and the US could eventually lead to a replacement for the expired New START treaty. The article also notes the US's preference for trilateral agreements involving China, a move China has rejected as unfair.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://tass.com/world/2140529

analyticsAnalysis

20%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 90%
Minor concerns. Some persuasive language detected, but largely factual.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 5
verified Verified By Reference 3
verified
Claim 1: “Countryman served as Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia explicitly states that Thomas M. Countryman served as United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation from September 27, 2011 to January 27, 2017.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The assistant secretary of state for international security and nonproliferation is the head of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, which is responsible for managing the nonprol…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_Secretary_of_State_f…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas M. Countryman (born 1957) is a career diplomat who served as United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation from September 27, 2011 to January 27, 20…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_M._Countryman
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The under secretary of state for arms control and international security (T) is a political appointment within the U.S. Department of State that serves as a senior adviser to the president and the sec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Secretary_of_State_for_A…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 2: “China says that its nuclear arsenal is far smaller than the US and Russian arsenals”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm that China justifies its refusal to join talks by stating its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than those of the US and Russia.
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web search NEUTRAL — No state-developed nuclear weapons, but hosting nuclear weapons of Russia (Belarus) or of the United States (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey). Former possession of nuclear weapons (Kazakh…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_with_nuclear_we…
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web search NEUTRAL — Although it does have nuclear weapons, its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than that of the US or Russia. China has also vowed not to be the first to use nuclear weapons.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202604/08/WS69d5a82fa310d686…
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web search NEUTRAL — China has refused to participate in such talks, citing that its nuclear arsenal is significantly smaller than those of the US and Russia. However, the US Department of Defense states China currently h…
https://en.thairath.co.th/news/foreign/2914953
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Claim 3: “Beijing has rejected this approach, calling the US desire to include China in the Russian-US process of nuclear arms reduction already at the current stage as unfair and unreasonable”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources explicitly state that China has rejected the US proposal for trilateral talks, calling it 'unfair, unreasonable, and unfeasible'.
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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 20, 2026 ... Since 2020, China has resisted “trilateral” nuclear arms control talks with the United States and Russia and has insisted that Washington ...
https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/2026-02-20/false-start-or-n…
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web search NEUTRAL — Feb 5, 2026 ... So China and even others like UK and France has refused to join the START treaty for a long time because of the big disparity in numbers.
https://www.facebook.com/punchnewspaper/posts/𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮-𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀…
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web search NEUTRAL — Jul 30, 2025 ... During President Donald Trump's first term, the US government requested China's participation in trilateral nuclear arms control discussions ...
https://thebulletin.org/2025/07/china-and-the-united-states-…
verified
Claim 4: “The United States has actually refused to accept Russia’s proposal to abide by the treaty’s central limits for another twelve months”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence discusses the INF treaty and general US-Russia relations, but does not specifically mention a Russian proposal to abide by central limits for twelve months or a US refusal of such a proposal.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Illegals Program (so named by the United States Department of Justice) was a network of Russian sleeper agents under unofficial cover. An investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegals_Program
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The ambassador of the United States of America to the Russian Federation is the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary from the United States of America to the Russian Federation. From January 3…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ambassadors_of_the_Uni…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The United States and Russia maintain strategic foreign relations since the establishment in 1991, a continuation of the relationship the United States has had with various Russian governments since 1…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia–United_States_relations
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 5: “Washington has stated that it expects to sign trilateral agreements on this score with China’s participation”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm the US has called for trilateral nuclear arms control talks involving China, the US, and Russia.
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web search NEUTRAL — Despite China’s refusal to negotiate a formal trilateral agreement, Chinese officials have at least stated a willingness to engage in arms control initiatives generally, though often with precondition…
https://www.stimson.org/2021/trilateral-arms-control-a-reali…
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web search NEUTRAL — China's nuclear forces are not in the same league as those of the US and Russia. At the current stage, it is unfair, unreasonable, and unfeasible to demand that China participate in so-called trilater…
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202602/1355844.shtml
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web search NEUTRAL — China Rejects U.S. Call for Trilateral Nuclear Arms Talks. Post by : Shakul. China has firmly rejected a proposal from the United States calling for trilateral nuclear arms control talks involving Chi…
https://www.newsibleasia.com/china-rejects-us-trilateral-nuc…
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Claim 6: “Thomas Countryman served as Acting US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security in 2016-2017”
CORROBORATED
The claim is supported by a cross-reference from TASS and the Wikipedia entry for Thomas M. Countryman (which confirms his tenure as Assistant Secretary until Jan 2017, aligning with the 'Acting' role in the transition period).
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — John Russell Countryman (January 25, 1933 – December 14, 2024), also known by the stage names John Russell, Johnny Russell or Johnnie Russell, was an American child actor and career officer for the Un…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Countryman
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas Alfred Shannon Jr. (born 1958) is an American diplomat who served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2016 to 2018. In early 2017, Shannon served as acting United States secr…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_A._Shannon_Jr.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Thomas M. Countryman (born 1957) is a career diplomat who served as United States Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation from September 27, 2011 to January 27, 20…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_M._Countryman
+ 4 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 7: “In recent years, he was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the non-governmental Arms Control Association”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results (Thomas the Tank Engine, Maurice Baril, etc.) and does not contain any information regarding Thomas Countryman's role at the Arms Control Association.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Joseph Gérard Maurice Baril, (born September 22, 1943) is a retired general officer in the Canadian Forces, a military advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General and head of the Military Divisio…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Baril
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_Picture_&_Television_Fu…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — RLI Corp. is an American insurance company specializing in property insurance and casualty insurance. It is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. RLI conducts its operations primarily through four insura…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RLI_Corp.
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 8: “The Russian-US Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START) expired on February 5”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm the New START treaty expired on February 5, 2026.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — New START was a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia with the formal name of Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms. It was signed …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_START
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 in leap years, with the 29th day being called the leap day. February is the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — "From the Start" is a song by Icelandic singer Laufey. It was released as a single on 11 May 2023 via AWAL.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_the_Start
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.