Russia accuses US of treaty violation for export of strategic weaponry to Israel

In response to the US exports of military materials and high-tech decoy missile components to be assembled in Tel Aviv, Russia has accused the US of violating the START-1 treaty on strategic offense weapons.

In an official statement sent to the US State Department and published in detail on Monday [August 9th] in local Russian media outlets, Russia’s Foreign Ministry asserted that the United States had committed numerous violations that threaten Russian security. Most significantly, the US is exporting defense decoy missile components to be assembled in Tel Aviv and supplying Israel with technology that it is not supposed to possess given that it is not a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime.

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The ministry added that the US administration is not fulfilling its non-proliferation responsibilities and held it responsible for the Georgian attack on South Ossetia around two years ago as Washington “exported a large shipment of 18,400 rifles and carbines and 40 heavy machine guns to Georgia.” Sources mentioned at the time that weapons were transferred through Tel Aviv and particularly that military relations and weapons deals exist between the two countries.
 
This statement comes in the context of Russia’s response to the US charges – in July – of Russia breaching the START-1 nuclear arms treaty and other treaties.