Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

How the "New START" Treaty Increases U.S. Security

by John Isaacs [contact information]

New START will verifiably reduce surplus U.S. and Russian nuclear forces and ensure a stable and predictable U.S.-Russian nuclear relationship.
The new agreement limits both deployed strategic missiles and bombers and deployed strategic warheads. The treaty’s streamlined verification and compliance provisions are tailored to the new limits and reflect the realities of the current U.S. and Russian arsenals. These provisions will also allow the U.S. to look into Russian missiles and count the actual number of warheads they carry, a first for an arms control treaty. They will give each side high confidence that the other is complying with the treaty’s limits and reduce the chances for misunderstanding and worst-case scenario planning that could lead to an accidental nuclear exchange. Moreover, the U.S. will still be able to maintain a robust and flexible nuclear deterrent. Without a new treaty the U.S. would have far less confidence in its ability to limit and monitor Russia’s still enormous nuclear arsenal.

New START will help strengthen cooperative efforts to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism.
Together the U.S. and Russia possess some 23,000 nuclear weapons, about 95 percent of all those in the world. Designed for the Cold War, such massive arsenals are useless against current threats like terrorism. Verifiable U.S. and Russian nuclear reductions – combined with other measures to control and secure Russian nuclear warheads and eliminate retired Russian delivery systems and vulnerable weapons-grade material – will reduce the risk that weapons or materials could be stolen and used in a nuclear terrorist attack.

New START is a key part of global efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
The new treaty sends a strong signal that the U.S. plans to play a key leadership role in reducing the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and that it is committed to upholding its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). U.S.-Russian nuclear reductions can help augment U.S. efforts to secure international support for tougher nonproliferation and nuclear security measures, which in turn would strengthen the NPT. It will also strengthen the Obama administration’s hand at the upcoming Nuclear Security Summit and NPT Review Conference.

New START is an important means to improve U.S.-Russian relations and sets the stage for discussions on deep nuclear reductions.
The formal arms control process can enhance U.S.-Russian relations, thereby making it easier to pursue other vital U.S. objectives that require Russia’s help, including buttressing programs to secure and safeguard nuclear material stockpiles and warheads and reigning in Iran’s nuclear program.

Bottom line: because the treaty so clearly benefits U.S. security, the agreement enjoys broad bipartisan support.
Even conservative Republicans favor negotiating a legally binding successor to START. For example, the May 2009 report of the bipartisan Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, which included several very hawkish Republicans, concluded: “The moment appears ripe for a renewal of arms control with Russia, and this bodes well for a continued reduction in the nuclear arsenal. The United States and Russia should pursue a step-by-step approach and take a modest first step to ensure that there is a successor to START I when it expires at the end of 2009.”