John Cornyn: “we know it has been the tradition of the Senate to prioritize nominees for national security positions, and there has…”

“we know it has been the tradition of the Senate to prioritize nominees for national security positions, and there has never been a more critical time to ensure that President Biden is surrounded by an experienced and capable team. From the threats posed by an increasingly hostile Iran to those by an unpredictable North Korea, there are many, many challenges on the horizon. One of the first the administration must confront is the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, also known as New START. This is the only remaining bilateral strategic arms agreement between the United States and Russia, which are the world's most powerful nuclear states, and it is set to expire in a matter of days. Last fall, the Trump administration advocated for a 1-year extension of New START, with the condition that both countries would cap nuclear weapons--nuclear warheads during that period. Unsurprisingly, Russia preferred a clean, 5-year extension with no warhead limitations. President Putin delayed the final stages of talks in the hopes that the potential Biden administration would strike a deal more favorable to Russia. And it appears now, at least as things stand today, that President Putin has hedged his bets correctly. Following a call yesterday between President Biden and President Putin, the White House announced that the United States and Russia are set to extend New START for 5 years, with no conditions attached.…”