Another round of talks between Moscow and Washington to conclude the U.S.-Russian strategic arms reduction negotiations on replacing the outdated START I treaty will open on Monday in Switzerland”s Geneva.
START I (the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), the basis for Russian-U.S. strategic nuclear disarmament, is valid until December 5. The two countries” presidents have expressed hope that a new pact will be ready before it expires.
The outlines of the new pact were agreed during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama”s summit in Moscow in July and include cutting both countries” nuclear arsenals to 1,500-1,675 operational warheads and delivery vehicles to 500-1,000.
START I commits the parties to reduce their nuclear warheads to 6,000 and their delivery vehicles to 1,600 each. In 2002, a follow-up strategic arms reduction agreement was concluded in Moscow. The document, known as the Moscow Treaty, envisioned cuts to 1,700-2,200 warheads by December 2012.
