WASHINGTON –The new START Treaty, signed by U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Prague on April 8, won’t constrain U.S. missile defence programmes, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher said.

“The new START Treaty does not constrain U.S. missile defense programs. The United States will continue to improve our missile defenses, as needed, to defend ourselves, our deployed forces, and our allies and partners,” Tauscher said at Atlantic Council Panel Discussion in Washington on Wednesday.

She noted that Russia’s unilateral statement on a possible secession from the treaty if the U.S. missile defence threatens its security “is not an integral part of the New START Treaty. It’s not legally-binding. It won’ t constrain U.S. missile defence programmes.”