8. Nuclear arms control and non-proliferation

Chapter:

8. Nuclear arms control and non-proliferation

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2012

Author(s):

Shannon N. Kile, Sibylle Bauer

The year 2011 saw continued political momentum behind treaty-based approaches to arms control and disarmament as well as multilateral initiatives to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and capabilities to produce them. It was highlighted by the entry into force of the Russia–United States New START treaty, which mandated additional reductions in the two parties’ strategic offensive nuclear forces (see section I in this chapter). The parties implemented on schedule the inspections, data exchanges, notifications and other measures set out in the treaty’s cooperative monitoring and verification regime. This regime represents one of the main achievements of New START because it preserves and extends previous treaty arrangements for increasing the transparency and predictability of the former cold war adversaries’ nuclear forces. In establishing this regime, New START continued an arms control process through which Russia and the USA have redefined their strategic relationship.