New START and Working with Russia

The signing of the New START agreement between the United States and Russia on February 5, 2010, was another milestone event towards the bilateral reduction of nuclear weapons.

The New START Treaty helps to establish a transparent, predictable, and stable relationship between the US and Russia—the countries that collectively hold 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons.

It limits both countries to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads, 30% below the upper limit of the SORT Treaty; 700 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers; and 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers.

New START has strengthened strategic stability between the United States and Russia by allowing each country to maintain a predictable nuclear arsenal.  This enhances U.S. insight into Russia’s strategic forces and increases the amount of information accessible to the United States.

Ratification of New START has not restricted the ability of the United States to design, test, and deploy missile defense systems.

What ASP thinks about the issue and what is ASP doing

Since President Eisenhower first proposed an Open Skies Treaty with the Soviet Union, successive American presidents have sought security in mutually binding, verified agreements to reduce the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. ASP seeks to build upon that legacy and educate the public about the leadership needed to build a new international consensus for nuclear security.

ASP is committed to arms control agreements and welcomes the next round of arms control talks.

We feel that nuclear weapons are instruments of the past that should be reduced to responsible levels that will improve the United States’ national security.