4. US-Russia Nuclear Talks
The US Joint Chiefs of Staff are opposing a Russian plan favored by the White House to cut the number of US nuclear warheads by an additional 1,000. Rumors in the US Congress say that President Bill Clinton will seek "unilateral cuts" in connections with the upcoming summit meeting in Moscow later this month. An anonymous senior US State Department official said, however, that Clinton is not likely to bring new proposals for reducing nuclear warhead stockpiles to the summit.
"Joint Chiefs Oppose Russian Plan To Cut 1,000 U.S. Warheads"
"Pentagon Feels Pressure To Cut Out More Warheads"
"Clinton unlikely to bring new nuke reduction proposals to Moscow: official"
Eugene Miasnikov examines the possibility of concluding START III now that the Russian Duma has ratified START II. Pavel Podvig argues that, while it will be difficult for the US and Russia to sign a new arms control agreement before US President Bill Clinton leave office, it is by no means impossible. Henry Kissinger argues that next month's US-Russia summit meeting is taking place under anomalous circumstances, as Russian President Vladimir Putin is developing policies intended to shape Russia's future, while US President Bill Clinton must be careful not to foreclose his successor's options.
"START III: Opportunities and Consequences for Nuclear Disarmament"
"START and the ABM Treaty: Is a Compromise Possible?"
"Mission to Moscow"