Friday, March 26, 2010

POLITICO: Obama announces new START treaty with Russia - Laura Rozen - Obama announces new START treaty with Russia


POLITICO: Obama announces new START treaty with Russia - Laura Rozen - Obama announces new START treaty with Russia


President Barack Obama announced Friday that that the U.S. and Russia have finalized a new strategic arms reduction treaty that will reduce the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals by a third.

"I’m pleased to announce that after a year of intense negotiations, the United States and Russia have agreed to the most comprehensive arms control agreement in nearly two decades," Obama said at the White House press briefing Friday, flanked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen.

"Broadly speaking, the new START treaty makes progress in several areas," Obama said. "It cuts -- by about a third -- the nuclear weapons that the United States and Russia will deploy. It significantly reduces missiles and launchers. It puts in place a strong and effective verification regime. And it maintains the flexibility that we need to protect and advance our national security, and to guarantee our unwavering commitment to the security of our allies."

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