Nuclear Arms Treaty

Trump Refuses To Extend Nuclear Arms Treaty With Russia

The decision to not extend the existing nuclear arms treaty with Russia is certainly a significant development, and it brings to mind the complex history and reasons behind these agreements in the first place.

Initially, these pacts were largely driven by cost. Both the United States and Russia found themselves locked in a tremendously expensive arms race. The desire to dial back this spending was strong, but neither nation wanted to risk falling behind if the other decided to continue its build-up unilaterally. So, the treaties emerged as a way for both sides to ease off the gas pedal while maintaining a level of transparency and mutual monitoring, ensuring neither side gained a significant advantage.… Continue reading

Trump on Nuclear Treaty: “If It Expires, It Expires”

“If it expires, it expires,” Trump said of the 2010 New START accord in a recent interview, which has stirred up a lot of reaction. It’s a blunt statement, to be sure, and one that immediately raises eyebrows when dealing with something as crucial as a nuclear arms treaty. The sentiment seems to be a shrug – a letting go of a critical agreement that has, at least on paper, helped keep a lid on the number of nuclear warheads possessed by the United States and Russia. The immediate implication is that the existing agreement, which aimed to limit strategic offensive arms, is of little value and can simply be allowed to lapse.… Continue reading