START and Beyond
Posted by benarmstrong on 12/21/2009 8:33:14 PM.
This policy was first proposed by New York Times Editorial Board.
Level of Government: National
Status: Proposed

Abstract
Background:
In 1991, the United States and a new Russia agreed to the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (START), which recently expired. The Obama administration has re-engaged Russia, breathing new life into arms limitation talks. The New York Times argues that the administration should aggressively pursue new arms reductions, including the renewal of START and the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Purpose:
To seriously re-engage with Russia in order to reduce the global nuclear threat, and the prospective spread of nuclear weapons.
Plans:
The New York Times proposes that the Obama administration actively renegotiate the 1991 START treaty with a particular focus on a verification regime to ensure that Russia has ceded and deactivated its arms as promised. The editorial also calls for the Obama administration to push the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, a measure that would further discourage the expansion of the so-called “nuclear club.”
Resources:
A revitalized START will require bilateral talks with (and perhaps concessions to) Russia. Ratifying the Test Ban Treaty will require a 2/3 vote of the Senate.

Policy Details
Continued negotiations to reduce nuclear armaments represent a key issue in the US-Russia bilateral ties. It is perhaps the cornerstone of the Obama administration's plan to reset the relationship. The NYT editorial questions Russia's potential compliance with a renewed START.
The editorial proposes that the Obama administration actively pursue its non-proliferation policy with Russia and through the United States Senate. Not only does the New York Times call on Obama to prioritize non-proliferation, but also for his administration to focus on verification regimes in a renewed START and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The editorial is essentially a call for effective implementation of Obama’s pledge to work toward a nuclear-free world.
Related Links
START and Beyond (NYT): Here is the full-text editorial from the New York Times.
START Background Information: Here is background information on the initial Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START).
Putin on START re-negotiation (NYT): Putin argues that a successful renegotiation of the START requires a solution to discrepancies on missile defense.

Related Articles on Pi
There are no recent articles to display.
.
Coming Soon
Re-imagining Community Colleges (CAP) in Education by Center for American Progress



Login
 
 
 

The following policies address similar issues:
US Defense Policy Survey proposed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Obama Administration
Thinking Big on Nuclear Non-Proliferation proposed by Brookings Institution, Carlos Pascual and Steven Pifer
START and Beyond proposed by New York Times Editorial Board