A U.S.-Russia Nuclear Pact? (RUSSIA)

The Cold War ended nearly two decades ago, yet U.S. and Russian nuclear doctrines and capabilities remain largely unchanged. Washington and Moscow are no longer enemies, yet today each country still deploys at least 2,200 strategic nuclear weapons, many of which are primed for a quick launch to deter a surprise attack by the other.


To be sure, arms control agreements have reduced excess nuclear stockpiles and provided greater predictability and stability. The landmark 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, slashed each nation's strategic warhead deployments from about 10,000 to less than 6,000, and it limited each country to no more than 1,600 strategic delivery systems.

Since then, however, U.S. and Russian leaders have missed opportunities to achieve deeper, irreversible cuts in warhead, missile and bomber stockpiles. The 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, or SORT, calls for no more than 1,700 to 2,200 deployed strategic warheads by 2012. But the agreement expires the same day that the warhead limit takes effect. Unlike START, SORT does not require the elimination of excess missiles and bombers. Worse still, it failed to establish new verification mechanisms, relying instead on those contained in START, which is due to expire on Dec. 5.

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