Biden to extend key nuclear treaty with Russia, but more conflict awaits

Support Pushback at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aaronmate

In his first major foreign policy move, President Biden has committed to renewing the New START treaty, which imposes the last remaining limits on the US-Russian nuclear weapons arsenals. The treaty was just days away from expiring -- and possibly setting off a new arms race -- after the Trump administration refused to renew it, and stalled negotiations.

While saying that it will renew New START, the Biden White House also announced that it will conduct an intelligence assessment of various allegations against Russia -- including the SolarWinds hack, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, and the debunked "Russian Bounties" in Afghanistan -- and respond with punitive measures if necessary. That pledge signals that despite Biden's nuclear diplomacy with Russia, more conflict could be ahead.

Guest: William Arkin. Award-winning reporter for Newsweek and author of a dozen books on national security policy.