On February 25, 2021 the German Institute for International and Security Affairs – Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) organised the online expert exchange ？A new dawn for arms control? Prospects for renewed nuclear and conventional arms control regimes？.

       Alexey Gromyko, director of the Institute of Europe (RAS), was one of the speakers together with Wolfgang Richter, Senior Associate, International Security Division, SWP, and Thomas Countryman, Board Chairman, Arms Control Association, Washington DC. The meeting was moderated by Du？an Relji？, Head of Brussels Office, SWP, Brussels.

       After taking office, US President Biden swiftly agreed with Moscow on a last-minute extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). However, at the same time, the Kremlin has followed suit to the United States’ decision of last year to quit the Open Skies Agreement leaving the Europeans in a difficult strategic position. Moreover, in 2019 the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty expired under President Trump. There are hopes that a renewal of nuclear arms control could close this gap and eventually encompass additional actors such as China, France and the UK.