The #START-1 treaty expired in 2009, and SORT in 2012. The #Bush administration proved unwilling to commit the United States to a new comprehensive arms control agreement, so the burden fell on the administration of President Barack #Obama to negotiate a follow-on arms control treaty with #Russia. The result was the #New-START treaty, which was signed in 2010.

The Russians had initially refused to finalize any strategic arms reduction treaty unless the US was willing to incorporate limitations on ballistic missile defense (BMD). The Obama administration assured the Russians that they would engage on #BMD in good faith, but that any such agreement would have to be separate from a nuclear arms reduction treaty if it were to be ratified by the US Senate. Russia agreed to de-link the two issues, only to be told by the US after New START entered into force that there could be no agreement on BMD.

Russia has likewise accused the US of negotiating in bad faith regarding decommissioning rules for B-52 bombers and Trident missile launch tubes; Russia wanted these systems to be permanently disabled, which met the intent of the treaty as negotiated, while the US implemented procedures which allow for the rapid activation of the decommissioned systems.

1. BMD has always been outside the scope of AMB. If Russia feared BMD, they had years to bilaterally reel in Iran, tamping down their hostile rhetoric. Russia made little effort to squelch their ally, Iran, into a cooperative partner in global peace. In hindsight, BMD was warranted given Iran’s activities juxtaposed with the current global security landscape.

2. Lastly, Mr. Ritter’s essay claims New Start expires in 2026, suggesting he’s unaware #Putin withdrew from the treaty in Feb 2023. Putin’s rationale? One simple issue: Western support for #Ukraine. True to form, Putin linked their hissy-fit-du-jour to an Arms Control Treaty. As for Scott’s handful of contentions with New Start? Putin raised none. Clearly to Putin, they weren’t the harbinger of treaty destruction Scott suggests.

Treaties are only as strong as the paper they are written on, which can simply be ripped or tossed in a wastebin. Nations that skirt, cheat, inhibit, or ignore their agreements, exacerbate instability and frustrate those that play by the rules.

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