MUNICH: Nuclear arms control treaty has taken effect between United States and Russia, securing a key foreign policy goal of President Barack Obama and raising hopes among officials on both sides for further reductions in Nuclear Arms race.
The New START treaty — the first major revamping of nuclear disarmament deals since the late Cold War era — was approved by the US Senate in December after a bruising fight during which Obama pressed strongly for its passage. Russia ratified the deal last month.
Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov suggested that the two countries could build upon the new treaty in other areas, saying that “coordinated efforts” were needed in missile defense, and that Moscow also was willing to talk about tactical nuclear weapon reductions.
He also stressed that any “hypothetical” negotiations on tactical nuclear weapons “must take into consideration not only Russia’s or the US nuclear arsenal but weapons systems of all nuclear and threshold” states.
The 10-year New START treaty, which can be extended by another five years, is a cornerstone of Obama’s efforts to “reset” US relations with Russia, and Clinton called it a “milestone in our strategic partnership.”
Lavrov said the treaty is in the national interests of both Russia and the United States.
The treaty builds on the original START, or Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, initially proposed by then-US President Ronald Reagan, which went into effect in 1994. The conclusion of the New START treaty comes the day before the 100th anniversary of Reagan’s birth.
New START, negotiated last year, limits each side to 1,550 strategic warheads, down from 2,200. It limits the number of deployed strategic launchers and heavy bombers to 700.
The pact also re-establishes a monitoring system that ended in December 2009 with the expiration of an earlier arms deal. Russia and the US have the right to conduct onsite inspections beginning 60 days from the agreement going into effect Saturday.
The two countries have seven years to meet the treaty’s central limits. Looking ahead, Clinton said the US is in talks with Russia about how the two countries can further work together to address issues that affect their common security, while maintaining strategic stability. Suggestions include joint analysis, joint exercises, and sharing of early warning data that could form the basis for a cooperative missile defense system, Clinton said.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said New START’s conclusion marked “a very significant day for disarmament” and offered encouragement to pursue further progress.
“I particularly welcome the fact that the US secretary of state now also wants to bring the issue of non-strategic nuclear weapons into the talks,” Westerwelle said. He hopes to secure the eventual removal of the remaining US nuclear weapons stationed in Germany.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the treaty “adds significant impetus to the hard-won momentum achieved in recent years.”
“I believe that the entry into force of the New START treaty will inspire further action toward creating a safer and more secure world for all.
