3. START Process
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed US National Security Adviser Samuel Berger on Thursday, but the issue of arms control talks was confined to the Berger's lower-level meetings. Eugene Miasnikov explores whether, in light of START II ratification by the Russian parliament, START III can be successfully concluded. To answer this question, he reviews current US and Russian attitudes toward nuclear disarmament. Dr. Alexei G. Arbatov, Deputy Chairman, Committee on Defense, Russian Federation Duma, says that ratification of START II and CTBT in Russia was motivated by interest and arguments and commitments that may not be very encouraging for the US. "The future process may entail great new difficulties, which the two countries will have to overcome."
"Berger Discusses Missile Shield, Meets Putin"
"START III: Opportunities and Consequences for Nuclear Disarmament"
"The Next Steps in Arms Control: A Russian Perspective"
In a release issued jointly with the Coalition to Reduce Nuclear Dangers, Bruce Blair, President of the Center for Defense Information, argues that the US Defense Department's claim that US nuclear forces cannot be reduced to less than the 2,000-2,500 level envisioned under a START III treaty is based on outdated guidance and Cold War assumptions."
"Cold War Era Assumptions Drive U.S. Nuclear Force Levels"