Moscow, March 1 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law officially suspending his country's participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the US.

He also pointed out the combined strike potential of NATO as Britain and France also have nuclear arsenals that pose a threat to Russia. A day later, a bill on the New START treaty suspension was unanimously adopted by Russia`s parliament and then sent to Putin for his final approval. The New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, was signed in 2010 and took effect on February 5, 2011.