US|Russia Sign Arms Pact in Prague

Love| Peace World superpowers Russia and the US signed a New Start nuclear proliferation treaty in Prague today, that will restore inspection of nuclear facilities. The diplomatic initiative is more symbolic than functional in terms of the actual reduction in nuclear arsenals. As a symbol of improved Russian|US relations, it’s very important.

The caps on nuclear arsenals are reduced, require each country to deploy no more than 1,550 strategic warheads, down from 2,200 allowed in the Treaty of Moscow signed by President George W. Bush in 2002. The US and Russia would be limited to 800 total land-, air- and sea-based launchers — 700 of which can be deployed at any given time — down from 1,600 permitted under the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty of 1991, or Start.

Ratification of the treaty requires 67 votes in the US Senate. President Obama is counting on Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, the senior Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee to lead the initiative.

“When the United States and Russia are not able to work together on big issues, it is not good for either of our nations, nor is it good for the world,” Mr. Obama said as his words echoed through a majestic, gilded hall in the famed Prague Castle. “Together, we have stopped the drift, and proven the benefits of cooperation. Today is an important milestone for nuclear security and nonproliferation, and for U.S.-Russia relations.”  via NYTimes