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Draft US defense budget prohibits data sharing with Russia under New START

The document contains a waiver, saying that "the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may waive the prohibition <…> if the Secretary of Defense certifies to the appropriate congressional committees in writing that the Russian Federation is providing similar information to the United States as required by the New START Treaty"

WASHINGTON, December 8. /TASS/. US lawmakers want to prohibit sharing of information with Russia, as required by the New START treaty, according to the 3,000-page draft National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.

"None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Defense may be made available to provide the Russian Federation with notifications as required by the New START Treaty," the document says.

The document contains a waiver, saying that "the Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may waive the prohibition <…> if the Secretary of Defense certifies to the appropriate congressional committees in writing that the Russian Federation is providing similar information to the United States as required by the New START Treaty; or it is in the national security interest of the United States to unilaterally provide such notifications to the Russian Federation."

The White House opposed adding this provision to the draft budget.

The overall defense budget will stand at record-high $886 billion, up 3% since last year.

Earlier, a committee bringing together members of both chambers of the US Congress was created to negotiate on details. Now, the document is to be approved by the House of Representatives and the US Congress before going to US President Joe Biden for signing.

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