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The New Strategic Arms Treaty

July 14, 2010

A new strategic arms treaty hammered out between Russia and the United States three months ago calls for the two global powers to vastly reduce their strategic warheads and to set limits on ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable bombers. The accord, if ratified by the U.S. Senate and Russia’s parliament, will bring U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces to their lowest levels in 40 years. On a recent trip to Moscow, Brookings President Strobe Talbott discussed the merits of the accord with former Ambassador Richard Burt, who helped negotiate the first START treaty nearly 20 years ago.