New START is being extended – that is big news, and the new US administration is thereby making an important initial gesture. Extension of the treaty between the United States and Russia to limit the number of strategic nuclear warheads truly benefits security, also for Europe.

As this crucial year for disarmament and arms control gets under way, the extension lays important groundwork. We are committed to ensuring that further encouraging steps are taken: The setbacks of recent years, for the INF Treaty on intermediate-range nuclear forces and the Treaty on Open Skies, must urgently be reversed.

In view of the quantum leaps that technology has made in the last few years, we must also take a close look at new developments. Broader negotiations with international actors, for the purpose of strengthening global arms control and shoring up the disarmament architecture, are urgently needed right now. Together with our European and international partners, we have been thinking about these issues and have put forward new proposals, in the form of the 'Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament' and the series of conferences on 'Rethinking Arms Control'.