Rice, Lavrov Agree to Maintain Nuclear Reductions

The United States and Russia today reaffirmed a mutual goal of sustaining strategic nuclear arms reductions made over the past decade, even as a major arms treaty is set to expire in 2009 (see GSN, June 22).

Under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the two nations have each cut their arsenals to fewer than 6,000 deployed warheads, reductions that were monitored and verified by detailed treaty provisions.  The pact is scheduled to expire in December 2009, 15 years after it entered into force, but the treaty allows for five-year extensions if the parties agree.  The treaty requires its parties to meet before the end of this year to formally decide on such an extension (see GSN, May 23).

U.S. officials have publicly dismissed the need for detailed arms control agreements with Russia, arguing that such negotiations are a Cold War artifact (see GSN, March 6).

That view was illustrated by the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, which calls for significant reductions to nuclear deployments by the end of 2012, but includes no verification or monitoring measures (see GSN, May 24, 2002).

Today’s joint statement by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirms the two nations’ intention to continue nuclear arms cuts.

“The United States and Russia reiterate their intention to carry out strategic offensive reductions to the lowest possible level consistent with their national security requirements and alliance commitments,” their statement says.

“To this end, ministers discussed development of a post-START arrangement to provide continuity and predictability regarding strategic offensive forces.  Upon instructions of the presidents, the sides will continue these discussions with a view toward early results” (Greg Webb, Global Security Newswire, July 3).

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