The New START Treaty is a prominent agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, aimed at further reducing and limiting strategic offensive arms. This treaty came into effect on February 5, 2011. It serves as an extension to the 1991 START framework that was established towards the end of the Cold War and restricted both countries to 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles and 6,000 warheads. For increased understanding and insight into this crucial agreement, this article will unveil the specifics of the New START Treaty along with an overview of strategic offensive arms and their classification.
The New START Treaty: Overview and Extension
The New START Treaty ensures the continuation of the bipartisan procedure of verifiably reducing U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. According to its terms, both the involved nations are confined to 700 strategic launchers and 1,550 operational warheads. Unless extended for another five years, the treaty is set to conclude in February 2021.
Understanding Strategic Offense Arms
Strategic offensive arms essentially refer to nuclear warheads deployed by Strategic Nuclear Delivery Vehicles (SNDVs). SNDVs consist of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) that have a range exceeding 5,500 kilometers, strategic bombers, warships (including strategic submarines), and cruise missiles, including air and sea-launched cruise missiles.
The Cold War Era: Introduction of The INF Treaty
During the throes of the Cold War, another significant treaty called the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty) came into existence. This nuclear arms-control accord, reached by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987, made the two nations consent to eliminate their stocks of intermediate-range and shorter-range (or “medium-range”) land-based missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
However, the United States decided to withdraw from the INF Treaty on August 2nd, 2019.
| Treaty | Launchers Limit | Warheads Limit | Effective From |
|---|---|---|---|
| New START Treaty | 700 | 1,550 | February 5, 2011 |
| START Framework (1991) | 1,600 | 6,000 | 1991 (end of Cold War) |
The IMPACT: Withdrawal from INF Treaty
The United States’ decision to pull out from the INF Treaty on August 2nd, 2019, marked a significant point in history. The treaty, which had been a crucial arms control accord for over three decades, saw its end. This withdrawal brought about substantial changes and impacts in the geopolitical landscape, echoing reverberations far beyond just the two signatory nations.
