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US Senate Ratifies New Arms Treaty

VOA News 22 December 2010

U.S. lawmakers have ratified a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, giving President Barack Obama a major foreign policy victory.

The Senate Wednesday approved the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, also known as START, with a two-thirds majority vote.

The agreement replaces an expired accord, further limiting the number of nuclear weapons Russia and the United States can maintain. It also would also establish a joint system for verification.

President Obama had called the treaty's ratification a national security priority.

Several prominent Republican lawmakers opposed the deal, warning it would limit America's capability to defend itself from missile attacks.

Before the vote, Democratic Senator John Kerry from Massachusetts told lawmakers the world would be watching as they "advanced the cause of peace."

The START agreement still needs to be ratified by Russian lawmakers to take effect. Russian lawmakers said Wednesday they could vote on the treaty before the end of the week.

The treaty cleared a major obstacle in Senate Tuesday, when 11 Republican senators joined all the Democrats present to end debate on the measure, bringing it to a final vote.

Supporters of the treaty include current and former U.S. defense officials and secretaries of state from Republican and Democratic administrations.

They say the new START accord will help build trust between the U.S. and Russia, and help maintain the international coalition against Iran's nuclear program.

Opponents of the treaty argued the wording might prevent the U.S. from pursuing missile defense systems in Europe.

Republican Senator John Kyl from Arizona and others said U.S. missile defense systems are needed to protect the country from rogue nations with nuclear warheads.

Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison from Texas said it was "unthinkable" that the U.S. could make itself vulnerable to countries like North Korea, Iran and even Venezuela.

They also expressed concerns that the treaty does not do enough to ensure Russia's compliance.

The accord restricts each nation to 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads, which is about a 30 percent reduction from a limit set in 2002.

The treaty was signed by Presidents Obama and Medvedev in April.