Thread by @sam_vinograd, 1. Trump's track record on nuclear weapons is clear: he's let arms [...]

1. Trump's track record on nuclear weapons is clear: he's let arms get out of control.

Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon than when Trump took office.

He has not negotiated a new deal.

2. Trump's obsequious courting of KJU has allowed the DPRK to increase its nuclear capabilities.

3. China has not stopped its nuclear weapons development despite Trump's entreaties to the CCP to sign a deal.

4. And let's talk about Russia: Trump withdrew from the INF Treaty citing Russian violations of the treaty

https://www.state.gov/u-s-withdrawal-from-the-inf-treaty-on-august-2-2019/ via @StateDept

U.S. Withdrawal from the INF Treaty on August 2, 2019 - United States Department of State

On February 2nd, 2019, the U.S. provided its six-month notice of withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty due to Russia's continuing violation of the treaty. The U.S. withdrawal...

https://www.state.gov/u-s-withdrawal-from-the-inf-treaty-on-august-2-2019/

5. Trump trashed the only, remaining major nuclear arms control agreement we have with Russia -- the New START Treaty.

He said it wasn't broad enough - just like he said about the JCPOA. And, he wanted China involved too.

6. Now, with days until the election, the Admin has been working to get an agreement with the Russians on an extension of New START. But they may be doing too little too late.

7. The lead US negotiator said we had an agreement in principle earlier this week - which the Russians quickly, publicly, denied

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/13/us-russia-arms-control-talks-new-start-treaty via @guardian

Arms talks spiral into confusion as Russia rejects US claim as 'delusion'

Top US negotiator claimed there was ‘an agreement in principle’ between Trump and Putin

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/13/us-russia-arms-control-talks-new-start-treaty

8. Senior Russian officials discounted @StateDept 's claim. Big time.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/us/politics/trump-russia-nuclear-deal.html via @SangerNYT @AndrewKramerNYT

Trump Thought He Had a Nuclear Deal With Putin. Not So Fast, Russia Said.

Trump administration officials want to broaden the New START accord and warn that the price of a new deal will rise after the election. Joe Biden supports a straight five-year extension of the deal.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/us/politics/trump-russia-nuclear-deal.html

10. None of this is good news - we need arms control agreements.

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