SORT
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions (SORT), better known as the Moscow Treaty "represents an important element of the new strategic relationship between the United States and Russia"[1] with both parties agreeing to limit their nuclear arsenal to 1700–2200 operationally deployed warheads each. It was signed in Moscow on May 24, 2002. SORT came into force on June 1, 2003 after the Bush-Putin ratification in St. Petersburg, and expires in December 31, 2012. Either party can withdraw from the treaty upon giving three months written notice to the other.
Contents |
[edit] Mutual nuclear disarmament
It is the latest in a long line of treaties and negotiations on mutual nuclear disarmament between Russia (and its predecessor the Soviet Union) and the United States, which includes SALT I (1969–1972), ABM Treaty (1972), SALT II (1972–1979), INF Treaty (1987), START I (1991), START II (1993), and START III that never even was properly negotiated, and died as of the linkage to START II.
The Moscow Treaty is different from START in that it limits actual warheads, whereas START I limits warheads only through declared attribution to their means of delivery (ICBMs, SLBMs, and Heavy Bombers).[citation needed]
Russian and U.S. delegations meet twice a year to discuss the implementation of the Moscow Treaty at the Bilateral Implementation Commission, or "BIC".
The treaty has been criticized for various reasons:
- There are no verification provisions to give confidence, to either the signatories or other parties, that the stated reductions have in fact taken place.
- The arsenal reductions are not required to be permanent; warheads are not required to be destroyed and may therefore be placed in storage and later redeployed.
- The arsenal reductions are required to be completed by December 31, 2012, which is also the day on which the treaty loses all force, unless extended by both parties.
[edit] SORT, arms control and the Bush administration
The above criticisms are best viewed in conjunction with relevant circumstances surrounding the current administration. During the Cold War, it became clear to most people on both sides of the Iron Curtain that a continued arms race in an environment of brinkmanship would only lead to financial difficulties and would not solve the nuclear dilemma; hence, arms control. Consequently, advances in arms control have become customary norms for leaders in both Washington and Moscow; the Moscow Treaty is apparently George W. Bush's contribution to the process.
In 2002, information was leaked from a classified document, the Nuclear posture review (NPR), which is required by law to assess the state of the current U.S. nuclear arsenal, outline projections, and address policy. The leaked information showed an interest by the Bush administration to pursue a new nuclear triad consisting of new offensive nuclear strike systems, ballistic missile defenses, and a revitalized nuclear infrastructure.
[edit] See also
- There have been several other treaties known as the Treaty of Moscow
- Russia and weapons of mass destruction
- United States and weapons of mass destruction
[edit] Further reading
- Wording of the Treaty Of Moscow 2002
- Full text of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty
- White House Fact Sheet: Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions
- Nuclear Files.org Text of the SORT
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Letter of Transmittal: The Moscow Treaty 2002
