In recent years tension’s rose between the U.S. and Russia but President Obama’s administration has taken a first step in repairing these damaged ties with its plans to cut down on nuclear weapons.
According to the Time’s, President Obama is seeking an 80 percent reduction of the nations nuclear stockpiles; a move which is being applauded by Moscow. Sergei Ivanov, the Deputy Prime Minister, said that Russia was even ready to sign a new strategic missile treaty with the United States a particularly sensitive issue which has been causing much friction between the two nations.
The standing missile treaty, the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), is set to expire in December and recent talks of renewal or negotiations for a subsequent treaty have faltered.
The primary reason for the talks stalling is a Bush-era missile defense plan which would place a significant U.S. weapon presence in Eastern Europe. The planned missile defense station would be placed in Poland and consists of 10 interceptor missiles accompanied by a radio station in the Czech Republic; a plan which outraged Russia and stressed the relations between both states.
Although the Obama administration has not stated whether or not the European missile defense will be pursued the creation of a new missile treaty would be a step in the right direction.
Currently the START agreement obligates both nations to limit their nuclear stockpiles to 10,000. Many officials speculate that a subsequent treaty between the two super-powers could negotiate nuclear stockpiles down to 1,000; a significant victory in the search for nuclear disarmament.
By: Alberto Ramos Cordero
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