The United States has agreed to notify other nations before it launches ballistic missiles or satellites, in a measure that builds on a landmark arms agreement with Russia and is meant to encourage Moscow to reciprocate.The American decision was contained in a confidential note made available Thursday to The Associated Press and confirmed by three diplomats familiar with the issue.
The move is less far-reaching — or binding — than the treaty signed last month by the U.S. and Russian presidents that outlines cuts in both nations’ massive nuclear arsenals. But it is significant in reflecting Washington’s determination to build on the success of that agreement.
For years, Russia voluntarily provided such pre-notifications regarding the launch of ballistic missiles or satellites. But it stopped doing that two years ago, complaining that the U.S. and other nations were not following suit.
One senior diplomat familiar with the issue said expectations were that Moscow would now resume its reporting.
“The United States … will provide pre-launch notification of commercial and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) space launches as well as the majority of intercontinental ballistic and submarine-launched ballistic missile launches,” said the note forwarded to HCOC, an organization overseeing efforts to curb the spread of such weapons.
The U.S. decision was conveyed to the other 129 HCOC member states on May 7, judging from the date on a cover letter accompanying the American note and signed by Austria’s Foreign Ministry, which administers the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
