|
The
ratified START I, nearly ratified START II, and proposed START
III Treaties are currently the backbone of the joint U.S. and
Russian plan for nuclear disarmament. The START agreements will
reduce the number of strategic nuclear delivery vehicles and
associated warheads. START I reduces the deployed nuclear arsenals
of the United States and Russia to approximately 6000 each, and
START II is intended to further reduce the deployed nuclear arsenals
to 3000-3500 each. START III was originally intended to reduce
arsenals to 2000-2500 each; however, Russia has recently indicated
a desire to reduce further to approximately 1500 each.
The
START I Treaty was ratified by both the U.S. and Soviet Union
in July 1991 and entered into force December 1994. The START
II Treaty was ratified by the U.S. Senate January 1996 and only
recently by the Russian Duma. To facilitate Duma approval a summit
was held in March 1997 at Helsinki which resulted in a number
of Amendments to START II. In ratifying START II the Duma reaffirmed
a number of important requirements. Russia's continued adherence
to START II is dependent on the U.S. adherence to the ABM Treaty
and to completion of a START III. The Russians have stated in
their resolution of ratification that they will not exchange
the instruments of ratification bringing START II into agreement
until the U.S. Senate approves the Helsinki Amendments. (Journal
of Arms Control Today, May 2000)
Not
addressed by the START Treaties is the disposition of nuclear
materials following warhead deactivation. While the START Treaties
reduce the immediate threat of nuclear weapons the nuclear materials
are still at risk of theft. A program is being developed jointly
by the U.S. and Russia to permanently disposition excess weapons
related nuclear materials. In particular, it has been agreed
upon by the U.S. and Russia that approximately 50 MT of weapons
related plutonium will be dispositioned by each side. Two methods
of plutonium dispositioning have been agreed upon, (1) incorporation
of plutonium into mixed oxide (MOX) nuclear reactor fuel for
power generation, and (2) immobilization of plutonium with highly
radioactive waste and consequent disposal in a deep underground
repository. The U.S. currently plans on using approximately 2/3
of the 50 MT for MOX fuel with the remainder to be disposed in
a repository. (Reference: The White House, Office of the Press
Secretary, 1 September 1998)
|
