Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

START Resource Center

For more information, contact John Isaacs

2009-2010 College Debate Topic on Nuclear Weapons: A Guide to Background Materials, Publications, & Organizations

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (State)

The landmark 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) provides a legally-binding basis for substantial, verified reductions in the U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. START codifies the end of the Cold War nuclear competition, reduces real and immediate dangers associated with the retention of excess nuclear weapons, and provides both sides with legal rights to verify the other’s compliance built to endure future political disputes.

However, START is due to expire in late-2009, leaving the future of nuclear arms reduction verification subject to the uncertainties of future international politics. The United States is working expeditiously with Russia to negotiate and conclude a new strategic arms reduction agreement that achieves deeper reductions in warheads and delivery systems and increasingly effective legally-binding provisions for verification and transparency.

START BRIEFING BOOK *Click Here for a PDF Version of the Briefing Book

Introduction: START I and Nuclear Weapons Reductions

START Follow-On Timeline (Updated through January 2010)

U.S. and Russian Arms Control Treaty Limits and Current Nuclear Stockpiles

Current U.S. and Russian Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles

Estimated Global Nuclear Weapons Inventories, 2009

Counting Rules Under START and Treaty of Moscow (SORT)

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

Moderates and Conservatives Supporting Nuclear Weapons Cuts

Major Public Support for Obama Nuclear Policies; Questions Remain

Newspaper Editorials Supporting Nuclear Weapons Reductions

From the Other Side: Voices Skeptical of Further Reductions

Rebuttals to Arguments Against “New START”

Previous Votes on SORT, CTBT, & START by Republican Senators Who Sit in 111th Congress

Articles and Background Materials

Senators Letter on START and Missile Defense (July 2, 2009)

Senators Letter on START and Modernization (July 23, 2009)

Republican Senate Letter on START and Modernization (December 15, 2009)

Proposed Deployment of 1,000 Nuclear Weapons

Technical Issues for a Follow-On START Agreement

What the Administration and Key Democrats Say

START Glossary

CENTER ANALYSIS

Turning the Doomsday Clock (January 27, 2010)

Nuclear Weapons: The Modernization Myth (December 8, 2009)

Pruning the Nuclear Triad? Pros and Cons of Bombers, Missiles, and Submarines (December 3, 2009)

Playing Chess With Russia: An Update on the New START Agreement (November 22, 2009)

Congressional Caucuses and Arms Control (November 5, 2009)

Obstacles to Negotiating a New START Agreement (October 30, 2009)

New START Won’t Require Cuts in U.S. Force Structure (October 16, 2009)

Senate Sounds of Silence on Nukes (October 8, 2009)

Local Priorities vs. National Interests in Arms Control (August 28, 2009)

Solid Progress on Nuclear Weapons Reductions (July 22, 2009)

Decrease Stockpiles, Increase Security (July 7, 2009)

The Obama-Medvedev Security Summit (July 3, 2009)

Backgrounder on Obama-Medvedev July 2009 Moscow Summit (July 2, 2009)

Will the Senate Support New Nuclear Arms Reductions? (June 23, 2009)

Nukes Remain Top Security Issue (June 9, 2009)

START Follow-On Treaty and Further Nuclear Reductions: Where Are We? (April 13, 2009)

Support for Nuclear Reductions Builds with Two New Bipartisan Reports (May 6, 2009)

ADMINISTRATION STATEMENTS

Press Conference Transcript of Hillary Clinton and Sergey Lavrov (March 6, 2009)

Speech by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the Conference on Disarmament (March 7, 2009)

Joint Statement by President Dmitriy Medvedev and President Barack Obama (April 1, 2009)

Background Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on Obama-Medvedev Meeting (April 1, 2009)

Remarks of President Barack Obama in Prague (April 5, 2009)

Statement on the Joint Understanding for the START Follow-on Treaty (July 6, 2009)

The Joint Understanding for the START Follow-on Treaty (July 8, 2009)

Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher Remarks to U.S. Strategic Command Deterrence Symposium (July 30, 2009)

The Legacy of START and Related U.S. Policies (July 16, 2009)

Speech by Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation Rose Gottemoeller: "The Long Road From Prague" (August 14, 2009)

Hillary Clinton and Sergey Lavrov Remarks (October 13, 2009)

Hillary Clinton Remarks at the United States Institute of Peace (October 21, 2009)

Joint Statement by the President of the United States of America and the President of the Russian Federation on the Expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) (December 4, 2009)

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