U.S. calls on NATO allies to tighten control over nuclear non-proliferation

That’s according to U.S. First Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, who made the statement on Tuesday during the NATO conference in Washington, D.C., an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"NATO and like-minded partners must be more determined than ever to fortify the infrastructure that's helped keep the world secure for decades," emphasized the U.S. State Department official.

In this context, she emphasized the need to reduce the risks of nuclear proliferation, ensure crisis communication, engage stabilization mechanisms, implement confidence-building measures and multilateral agreements.

Sherman recalled that the United States has repeatedly offered Russia ways to extend the non-proliferation agreements. However, Putin ignored these offers and last year made the “horrific decision” to launch a brutal violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

“Putin has repeatedly used nuclear saber-rattling to ratchet up tensions and raise the stakes of this war,” Sherman stressed.

"He said Russia will deploy nuclear weapons to Belarus, he's pushed a legally invalid suspension of new START, endangering global nuclear stability," the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State noted.

In addition, Sherman recalled a fearsome jump in Iran’s uranium enrichment levels., as well as active tests of strategic nuclear weapons carriers by North Korea.

The official quoted President Joe Biden as saying that "no matter what is happening in the world, the United States is ready to pursue critical arms control measures." Sherman emphasized that this is a position of principle, and that it remains relevant even when others refuse to follow through on their commitments.

In this context, the U.S. representative called on other countries to undertake more efforts to strengthen control over non-proliferation in order to keep the world a safer place.

As reported, the 18th annual NATO conference on weapons of mass destruction, arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation is being held in Washington on Tuesday.