START on the agenda after Obama’s Europe trip

President Barack Obama traveled to Europe and met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, where the two discussed START I. START stands for Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, and it set limitations on the number and type of nuclear weapons each country has.

After the meeting on April 1, 2009, the leaders declared their intention to negotiate a replacement for START I before it expires on Dec. 5, 2009.

They also directed their respective delegations to begin negotiations with a progress report due in July, when Obama intends to visit Russia.

A joint statement outlined three points:

• that the subject of the new agreement will be the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms;
• that the agreement will seek reductions in strategic offensive arms that will be lower than those in the 2002 Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, which is currently in effect;
• that the new agreement will “mutually enhance the security of the parties and predictability and stability in strategic offensive forces, and will include effective verification measures drawn from the experience of the parties in implementing the START treaty.”

The Obama administration said that Rose Goettemiller would be the chief negotiator for the United States; Goettemiller was confirmed as assistant secretary of defense for verification and compliance on April 3.

Goettemiller said she has already spoken by phone with her Russian counterpart and a date is set for their first meeting. Goettemiller spoke at a forum hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on April 7.

These developments indicate that Obama intends to exceed his promise to continue the provisions of START I, and he has taken significant steps toward that goal. We rate this promise In the Works.