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US decided to hide information on stockpiles of nuclear weapons

US hid data on nuclear arsenal

"The New York Times" reports that the administration of President Donald Trump, without giving any reasons, stopped disclosing data on stocks of American nuclear weapons. Such a decision was reported in a letter to the Ministry of Energy to the Federation of US Scientists. This federation, being a non-profit organization, is engaged in the study of nuclear weapons, advocating the openness of the government in matters of national security. She sent a request to clarify the number of warheads.

The Ministry responded in its letter that “The requested information cannot be declassified at the moment”. The reasons for this were not explained. It was only noted that the decision was made after thorough discussion.

The newspaper "The New York Times" emphasizes that by doing so the presidential administration stops the practice that was introduced under Barack Obama. Then in May, 2010 for the first time after the creation of a nuclear bomb, stocks of such weapons were declassified. Disclosed data and at Trump. So, on 30 September 2017, the US stockpile consisted of 3822 nuclear warheads. This is 196 less than the same date 2016 of the year.

The secrecy of information has already been met with criticism. The head of the Nuclear Information Project in the Federation of Scientists, Hans Christensen, is convinced that there is no need to conceal such data. Declassification ensures that it is impossible to exert pressure on other countries so that their leaders will make public their nuclear stockpiles. Christensen recalls that Washington several times resented the secrecy of the arsenals available to Russia and China.

The newspaper reminds that the Russian leadership does not report on its nuclear arsenal. True, Washington assumes that there are approximately around 4350 warheads in the Russian Federation.

According to the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Arms (START-3), Russia and the United States are committed to reducing their nuclear arsenals by February 5 to 2018. Each country should have a maximum of 1550 warheads. There are restrictions on intercontinental ballistic missiles, ballistic missiles deployed on submarines and strategic bombers, launchers. The contract will end in 2021 year.

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