START

Definition

START, or Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, is a series of bilateral agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union/Russia to reduce and limit strategic offensive arms. These treaties have played a crucial role in the context of nuclear weapons and global security.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The START treaties have been instrumental in reducing the number of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles possessed by the United States and Russia.
2. START I, signed in 1991, required the U.S. and Russia to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals to no more than 6,000 warheads each.
3. START II, signed in 1993, aimed to further reduce the number of strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 3,000-3,500 for each country.
4. The New START treaty, signed in 2010, limits the U.S. and Russia to no more than 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads each.
5. The START treaties have been viewed as important steps towards nuclear disarmament and enhancing global stability.

Review Questions

• Explain the key objectives of the START treaties and their significance in the context of nuclear weapons.
  • The primary objectives of the START treaties were to reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons possessed by the United States and Russia, as well as to enhance transparency and verification measures to ensure compliance. These agreements were significant in the context of nuclear weapons as they represented important steps towards nuclear disarmament, reducing the risk of nuclear war, and promoting greater stability in the global security environment.
• Analyze the role of deterrence theory in the development and implementation of the START treaties.
  • Deterrence theory, which aims to prevent an adversary from taking an action by making the perceived cost of that action outweigh the perceived benefit, played a crucial role in the development and implementation of the START treaties. By reducing the number of strategic nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles, the START treaties sought to maintain a balance of power and nuclear deterrence between the U.S. and Russia, while also reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized launch of these weapons. The verification and transparency measures included in the treaties were also designed to enhance confidence and stability in the nuclear deterrence relationship between the two countries.
• Evaluate the long-term impact of the START treaties on global nuclear disarmament efforts and the future of nuclear weapons control.
  • The START treaties have had a significant long-term impact on global nuclear disarmament efforts and the future of nuclear weapons control. By establishing a framework for reducing and limiting strategic nuclear arsenals, the treaties have set precedents and paved the way for further reductions and negotiations. The treaties have also contributed to increased transparency and confidence-building measures between the U.S. and Russia, which are crucial for maintaining stability and reducing the risk of nuclear conflict. Looking to the future, the continued implementation and potential expansion of the START framework could play a vital role in advancing global nuclear disarmament and shaping the future of nuclear weapons control on an international scale.

Related terms

Nuclear Disarmament:

The process of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons from a country's arsenal, often through international treaties and agreements.

Deterrence Theory: The strategy of preventing an adversary from taking an action by making the perceived cost of that action outweigh the perceived benefit.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT): Diplomatic negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1970s that led to the first agreements to limit the growth of nuclear weapons.