Ratify the New Start Treaty

During the NATO Lisbon Treaty they renewed NATO’s Strategy and vision. At the Summit the United States and the 27 NATO Countries adopted a new “Strategic Concept” of the Treaty. The System aims to protect NATO European Territories, and population against increasing Missile Defense attacks. The Summit represented increase Russian – NATO Relations, and is a good example of Diplomatic advancement. These are the views of the author, and do not reflect the opinion of the MDAA.

Secret talks with Russia focused on missile defense

 

The State Department said that despite denials from the Obama Administration, that there were secret talks held with Russia in May. These talks consisted of Missile Defense agreements that Moscow dismissed. This report has come out after Dmirtri Medvedev has pressed for a new anti ballistic missile agreement. Furthermore, Medvedev stated that if there is a failure to reach an agreement then there will be a new arms race at hand.

Russian President to Meet NATO Leaders

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev will meet othe World Leaders in Lisbon on Saturday. According to NATO Secretary Andres Fogh Rasmussen he stated that meeting President Medvedev will be “an opportunity to turn a new page and to bury the ghosts of the past.” One of the key issues will be Missile Defense, and the proposal put forth by the Bush Administration. The reaction from Moscow of the current Missile Defense proposal is far less strigent that that of the Bush Administration.

Don’t Stall on New START

It’s time for the U.S. Senate to ratify the new arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia (New START).

The treaty‘s benefits are clear and concrete (PDF). Each side would reduce its nuclear stockpile by about one-third. Each side would adhere to an effective, multi-faceted monitoring scheme — including satellite reconnaissance, on-site inspections, and extensive information exchanges — that would ensure compliance with the agreement. The treaty would also set the stage for enhanced U.S. and Russian cooperation on urgent issues such as curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and securing nuclear weapons and bomb-making materials to keep them out of the hands of terrorists. And it would signal to the rest of the world that the United States and Russia — which together account for over 90% of the world’s more than 20,000 nuclear weapons — are serious about their commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The treaty calls for existing nuclear weapons states to reduce and eventually eliminate their arsenals in exchange for other signatories agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons

U.S. Vote Could Derail Russia Ties

The Republican election victory last week was fueled by opposition to President Obama’s economic and domestic initiatives, but it could undo his central foreign policy achievement, his new partnership with Russia, and embolden anti-American hawks in Moscow.

In forging a friendlier relationship with the Kremlin after years of tension, Mr. Obama needs Congress to sign off on three major policy changes: an arms control treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals and resume inspections; a civilian nuclear agreement to permit greater cooperation; and a repeal of cold war-era trade restrictions so Russia can join the World Trade Organization.