Will Russia agree to US calls for further nuclear arms cuts?

Question

Accepted Answer

Russia's Stance on Further Nuclear Arms Reductions

Russia's position indicates a reluctance to unilaterally agree to further significant strategic nuclear weapons cuts, emphasizing the need for a broader international commitment and the maintenance of strategic deterrence balance. While the United States has proposed reducing arsenals by up to one-third, Russia has previously expressed reservations about lowering its tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Europe and stressed that it will not permit any disruption to its strategic nuclear deterrence capabilities.
US Proposal for Deeper Cuts

US President Barack Obama has publicly urged Russia to agree to strategic nuclear weapons cuts of up to a third. Such a reduction would bring the combined arsenals of both nations down to approximately 1,000 weapons each. This proposal builds upon the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) negotiated during Obama's first term, which established a ceiling of 1,550 strategic nuclear weapons for both the US and Russia.
Russian Concerns on Deterrence Balance

President Vladimir Putin has articulated Russia's stance, stating that the country will not permit an imbalance in strategic nuclear deterrence. Ahead of Obama's speech, Putin indicated that Russia cannot allow the existing balance of its strategic deterrence system to be disturbed or the effectiveness of its nuclear forces to be diminished. This highlights a core Russian concern regarding the maintenance of its perceived strategic parity.
Demand for Broader International Commitment

Furthermore, a senior Kremlin aide suggested that Russia desires other nations to also commit to nuclear disarmament. This indicates that Russia's willingness to engage in further bilateral reductions is contingent on a wider international framework that includes other nuclear-armed states. This perspective underscores a strategic approach that seeks multilateral engagement rather than solely bilateral negotiations on nuclear arms control.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Will Russia agree to US calls for further nuclear arms cuts?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends