US destroyed arms control pact – New start treaty

Subject : International Relations

Section: Important Events

Concept :

Russia has accused US for destroying weapons control agreements, after the US said Russia was not complying with their last remaining arms pact, the New START treaty.

New START Treaty

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) pact limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads, missiles and bombers and is due to expire in 2021 unless renewed.
The treaty limits the US and Russia to a maximum of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, well below Cold War caps.
It was signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
It entered into force on 5th February, 2011.
It is one of the key controls on the superpower deployment of nuclear weapons.
Its duration was for ten years that is till 2021, but it was extended by five more years till 2026.

Important Disarmament Treaties signed between Russia and USA

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks-1(SALT):

It began in 1969, Under the Interim Agreement, both sides pledged not to construct new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) silos, not to increase the size of existing ICBM silos significantly, and capped the number of Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) launch tubes and SLBM-carrying submarines.

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-1 (START):

Signed in 1991, the agreement required the destruction of excess delivery vehicles which was verified using an intrusive verification regime that involved on-site inspections, the regular exchange of information (including telemetry), and the use of national technical means (i.e., satellites).

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty-2:

Signed in 1993, called for reducing deployed strategic arsenals to 3,000-3,500 warheads and banned the deployment of destabilizing multiple-warhead land-based missiles.

Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT):

Signed in 2004, under which the United States and Russia reduced their strategic arsenals to 1,700-2,200 warheads each.

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START):

Signed in 2010, a legally binding, verifiable agreement that limits each side to 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads deployed on 700 strategic delivery systems (ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers) and limits deployed and nondeployed launchers to 800.