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By Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dozens of U.S. Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to work with Congress to renew a U.S.-Russia nuclear weapons pact that expires next year, saying that even during tense times the agreement has reduced the risk of nuclear war.
The lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Edward Markey, Christopher Murphy and Tammy Baldwin, said the administration of Republican President Donald Trump has a historic opportunity to initiate high-level talks for replacing the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, which expires on February 5, 2026.
The lawmakers said progress can be made even though Russia's President Vladimir Putin is in a three-year-long war with Ukraine.
"We condemn Putin’s nuclear saber-rattling against Ukraine," the lawmakers wrote in a letter first reported by Reuters. "Yet even when our nations have had profound disagreements, including during the Cold War, we managed to come to the table to bring the world back from the precipice of nuclear catastrophe."
Rubio and other Trump officials met with Russian officials on Tuesday in Riyadh for talks ending the war in Ukraine and agreed to hold more meetings.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter and whether the topic of a renewal of New START came up in Riyadh.
In 2010, Moscow and Washington first signed New START, which reduces U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals with verification. The countries agreed in 2021 to extend the treaty five years.
The Democratic lawmakers said the Trump administration has an opportunity until the nuclear treaty talks reach a deal to mutually agree to respect the limits of New START, using existing means of verification of nuclear arsenals.
"While Russia has agreed to abide by the treaty’s limits, we believe it is in the best interest of both of our nations to pursue formal mechanisms aimed at preventing a nuclear arms race," they said.
The lawmakers urged Rubio to work with Congress to replace New START and requested that the State Department hold a congressional briefing on the administration's plan.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
