US, Russian delegations to discuss arms control in Geneva

WASHINGTON (AP) — Delegations from the U.S. and Russia plan to meet in Geneva on Wednesday to discuss arms control talks and the possibility of a three-party nuclear weapons pact with China.

The New START treaty, the last major arms-control treaty remaining between the U.S. and Russia, expires in 2021.

Two senior administration officials say China’s arsenal of nuclear warheads has grown in recent years and the U.S. thinks Beijing can no longer be excluded from nuclear arms control agreements.

While there has been talk about extending the New START treaty, the U.S. thinks that’s premature.

Instead, the officials say, the U.S. wants to see if a multilateral agreement can be reached with Moscow and Beijing.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose details ahead of the meeting.