The United States has decided to revoke visas previously granted to Russian experts who were required to conduct inspections under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, according to information from the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance. This move affects the ability of those experts to participate in START-related inspection activities and signals a broader shift in how the United States manages verification duties with Russia. The document notes that the evaluation process for issuing new visas has also been suspended, meaning new applications will not be processed while this policy remains in effect.
Washington also announced that telemetry data used to monitor the status and movement of strategic weapons will no longer be transmitted to Moscow. This includes information on intercontinental ballistic missiles and missiles launched from U.S. submarines, reflecting a pause in the exchange of certain sensitive data between the two nations. These steps represent a pause in routine information sharing that had previously supported transparency and verification under the START framework.
Historically, the Office of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance within the State Department has reported on the status of START-related records and communications. From June 1, the United States stopped transmitting detailed information about the status and location of strategic weapons covered by START to Russia, marking a notable shift in the management of strategic arms data. The updates come as part of ongoing policy actions related to arms control and verification, illustrating the evolving posture of the United States in its dealings with Russia regarding strategic weaponry and treaty obligations. In summary, the current policy moves curtail visa issuance for inspectors and suspend certain data exchanges, aligning with the broader defensive and verification stance being pursued by Washington in this period.