New U.S. - Russia Nuclear Agreement Facing Ratification Problems In The U.S. Senate

Key Senator Expects Tough Fight On Arms Control Deal -- Global Security Newswire

Friction between Democratic and Republican senators is likely to complicate efforts to ratify a new U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control treaty, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) told the Boston Globe in remarks published today (see GSN, April 28).

Signed earlier this month by U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the pact would obligate the two former Cold War adversaries to both lower their respective strategic arsenals to 1,550 fielded warheads and to limit their deployed nuclear delivery vehicles -- missiles, submarines and bombers -- to 700, with another 100 permitted in reserve. Under a 2002 pact, Moscow and Washington had until 2012 to reduce their deployed strategic stockpiles to a maximum of 2,200 weapons each.

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My Comment: Traditionally .... when important treaties were being negotiated and agreed upon between the U.S. and other countries .... the U.S. Senate was involved by being briefed and having their own opinions considered. However .... under this administration .... a different tack was followed in which many in the Senate are of the opinion (particularly on the Republican side) that they were deliberately left out.

There are always political consequences when a government pursues such an independent course, and the White House is going to experience this when they find that they have problems in ratifying the treaty. With a majority of Americans opposing the treaty, this is going to be an uphill battle .... especially in an election year.