Nuclear arms control: Obama proposes more cuts

摘要

In June 2013, at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, US President Barack Obama proposed two new steps for US-Russia nuclear arms control. Firstly, deployed strategic nuclear arms could be cut by up to one-third below the 1,550 warhead limits both sides must meet by 2018 under the 2010 New START Treaty. He said such a voluntary reduction (which would reduce totals to about 1,000 warheads) would not undermine US security, and could be achieved by means other than a formal treaty. Secondly, the United States would work with NATO partners and Russia to seek 'bold reductions' in tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Europe. Critics question the military utility and cost-effectiveness of the approximately 180 US B61 free-fall bombs kept in Europe - the US contribution to nuclear burden-sharing with NATO allies. Regardless, NATO agreed at its May 2012 Chicago Summit to address any deployment decisions by consensus and in conjunction with how Russia deals with its much larger stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons (estimated at around 2,000 warheads).