Will The U.S. - Russian START Treaty Be Ratified This Year?

Russian Topol inter-continental ballistic missiles are pictured during a rehearsal for the nation's annual May 9 Victory Day parade (file photo)

Debate On "New START" Seen Dragging Past August -- Global Security Newswire

A number of U.S. Senate staffers expressed doubt that the legislative body would vote on ratification of a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia before adjourning in two weeks for its August recess, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday (see GSN, July 23).

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in April signed the replacement to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The "New START" pact would obligate both nations to cap their fielded strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads, down from the maximum of 2,200 allowed each country by 2012 under the 2002 Moscow Treaty. The deal would also limit U.S. and Russian deployed nuclear delivery vehicles to 700, with another 100 platforms allowed in reserve. The pact has been submitted for ratification by Russia's legislature as well as the Senate.

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More News On The START Treaty

US-Russia nuke treaty facing hurdles in US Senate -- AP
Obama Jockeys for Republican Backing on "New START" -- Global Security Newswire
White House Presses Republicans on Arms Treaty -- New York Times
Republican skepticism challenges US-Russia treaty on nuclear weapons -- Christian Science Monitor
The START debate -- Washington Post editorial
What the Post Gets Wrong on New START -- Heritage Foundation
Debating the New START Treaty -- Council on Foreign Relations