Obama and Medvedev signed the new START agreement in Prague on April 8. (© picture alliance / Photoshot)
Russian Lawmakers Drop "New START" Endorsement -- Global Security Newswire
A key Russian legislative panel annulled its call for ratification of a new nuclear arms control treaty with the United States based on the outcome of yesterday's U.S. midterm election, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, Nov. 1).
U.S. President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in April signed the "New START" pact, which requires their nations to each cut deployed strategic nuclear weapons to 1,550 warheads, down from the maximum of 2,200 allowed by 2012 under an earlier agreement. They must both also restrict their active nuclear delivery vehicles to 700, with another 100 platforms allowed in reserve.
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Update: Russian deputies to postpone ratifying new START -- Xinhuanet
My Comment: Last week U.S. Senator Lugar was voicing his concern that Republican Congressional victories may hinder approval of the START Treaty. Well .... he is right, but it is on the Russian side that delays are now being proposed.
I still expect the Russian Parliament to approve the treaty, but on the U.S. side there will be calls for delay as newly elected Senators will want to know what are the provisions and the long term consequences of the START treaty. Senator Lugar may not like such delays .... but the U.S. is a representative democracy, and the new Senators do have a right to know on what they are voting on.
Update: U.S. Nonproliferation Legislation Could Gain Steam in GOP-led House -- Global Security Newswire