The authoritative guide to ensuring science and technology make life on Earth better, not worse.

Despite challenges, US-Russian nuclear arms control has its benefits

By Shannon Bugos | November 9, 2022

Prototype of Russia’s Poseidon nuclear-powered/nuclear-armed torpedo next to the silhouette of a human being and other Russian underwater weaponry. Image courtesy of HI Sutton/Covert Shores http://www.hisutton.com/Poseidon_Torpedo.html

Despite challenges, US-Russian nuclear arms control has its benefits

By Shannon Bugos | November 9, 2022

Loading...
References

Billingslea, M. 2020. “Special Presidential Envoy Marshall Billingslea on the Future of Nuclear Arms Control.” Hudson Institute. May 21. https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.hudson.org/Transcript_Marshall%20Billingslea%20on%20the%20Future%20of%20Nuclear%20Arms%20Control.pdf 

Bugos, S. 2019a. “U.S. Completes INF Treaty Withdrawal.” Arms Control Association. September. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-09/news/us-completes-inf-treaty-withdrawal

Bugos, S. 2019b. “Select Statements of Support for New START.” Arms Control Association. November. https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/support-for-new-start

Bugos, S. 2019c. “U.S. Intel Sheds Light on Russian Explosion.” Arms Control Association. October. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-10/news/us-intel-sheds-light-russian-explosion

Bugos, S., and Reif, K. “Understanding Hypersonic Weapons: Managing the Allure and the Risks.” Arms Control Association. September. https://www.armscontrol.org/reports/2021/understanding-hypersonic-weapons

Bugos, S. 2022a. “Putin Orders Russian Nuclear Weapons on Higher Alert.” Arms Control Association. March. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-03/news/putin-orders-russian-nuclear-weapons-higher-alert

Bugos, S. 2022b. “U.S. Rushes Hypersonic Development.” Arms Control Association. June. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2022-06/news/us-rushes-hypersonic-development

CBS News, 2022. “Transcript: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on ‘Face the Nation.’” March 20. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lloyd-austin-defense-secretary-transcript-face-the-nation-03-20-2022/

Facini, A. 2020. “The low-yield nuclear warhead: A dangerous weapon based on bad strategic thinking.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. January 28. https://thebulletin.org/2020/01/the-low-yield-nuclear-warhead-a-dangerous-weapon-based-on-bad-strategic-thinking/#post-heading

Jenkins, B. 2022. “Priorities Regarding the New and Emerging Challenges to International Security.” US State Department. May 26. https://www.state.gov/priorities-regarding-the-new-and-emerging-challenges-to-international-security/

Hruby, J. 2019. “Russia’s New Nuclear Weapon Delivery Systems: An Open-Source Technical Review.” November. https://media.nti.org/documents/NTI-Hruby_FINAL.PDF

Kristensen, H., and Korda, M. 2021. “United States nuclear weapons, 2021.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. January. https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2020.1859865

Kristensen, H., and Korda, M. 2022. “Russian nuclear weapons, 2022.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. February. https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.2022.2038907

Krzyzaniak, J. 2019. “Project Pluto and the trouble with Russia’s nuclear-powered cruise missile.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. August 20. https://thebulletin.org/2019/08/project-pluto-and-trouble-with-the-russian-nuclear-powered-cruise-missile/

Mascias, A. 2019. “Russian nuclear missile with ‘unlimited’ range to be ready by 2025, US intelligence says.” CNBC. September 11. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/11/russian-nuclear-missile-with-unlimited-range-to-be-ready-by-2025-us-intel.html

Mizokami, K. 2019. “Russia Releases Test Video of Poseidon Nuclear Attack Drone.” Popular Mechanics. February 22. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a26453301/russia-poseidon-nuclear-attack-drone-video/

Mizokami, K. 2021. “Russia Is Still Testing Its Terrifying Apocalypse Torpedo.” Popular Mechanics. April 14. https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a36110992/russia-poseidon-apocalypse-torpedo-updates/

O’Connor, T. 2022. “War in Ukraine Is Pushing the Last U.S.-Russia Nuclear Treaty Off the Rails.” Newsweek. August 20. https://www.newsweek.com/war-ukraine-pushing-last-us-russia-nuclear-treaty-off-rails-1735371

Putin, V. 2018. “Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.” President of Russia. March 1. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/56957

Putin, V. 2019. “Presidential Address to Federal Assembly.” President of Russia. February 20. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/59863

Putin, V. 2022. “Address by the President of the Russian Federation.” President of Russia. September 21. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/69390

Reif, K., and Bugos, S. 2019. “U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Watch.” Arms Control Association. November 15. https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/2019-11-15/us-russian-nuclear-arms-control-watch

Reif, K., and Bugos, S. 2021. “U.S., Russia Extend New START for Five Years.” Arms Control Association. March. https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-03/news/us-russia-extend-new-start-five-years.

Russian Foreign Ministry. 2022. “Foreign Ministry statement on the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms.” August. https://mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/1825525/

Sanger, D., and Kramer, A. “U.S. Officials Suspect New Nuclear Missile in Explosion That Killed 7 Russians.” New York Times. August 12. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/world/europe/russia-nuclear-accident-putin.html

Sayler, K. 2022. “Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress.” Congressional Research Service. July 20. https://sgp.fas.org/crs/weapons/R45811.pdf

Thielmann, G. 2020. “Incorporating Missile Defense in Strategic Arms Control.” Deep Cuts Commission. October. https://deepcuts.org/publications-briefings/issue-briefs/issue-brief-12-incorporating-missile-defense-in-strategic-arms-control

Tomero, L. 2021. “US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue: Purpose, Progress, Challenges and Opportunities.” Russia Matters. December 15. https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/us-russia-strategic-stability-dialogue-purpose-progress-challenges-and-opportunities

Vaddi, P. 2019. “Bringing Russia’s New Nuclear Weapons Into New START.” Lawfare. August 13. https://www.lawfareblog.com/bringing-russias-new-nuclear-weapons-new-start

Vaddi, P., and Acton, J. 2020. “A ReSTART for U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control: Enhancing Security Through Cooperation.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. October 2. https://carnegieendowment.org/2020/10/02/restart-for-u.s.-russian-nuclear-arms-control-enhancing-security-through-cooperation-pub-82705x

Witze, A. 2022. “Nuclear war between two nations could spark global famine.” Nature. August 15. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02219-4

Together, we make the world safer.

The Bulletin elevates expert voices above the noise. But as an independent nonprofit organization, our operations depend on the support of readers like you. Help us continue to deliver quality journalism that holds leaders accountable. Your support of our work at any level is important. In return, we promise our coverage will be understandable, influential, vigilant, solution-oriented, and fair-minded. Together we can make a difference.


Get alerts about this thread
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
World Balancer
World Balancer
2 years ago

Russia should not enter into any negotiations with the US.
Let’s face the facts, Russian military is weaker compared to the west. Putin did a serious miscalculation by not employing nuclear weapons against Ukraine. Any threat by US should have been met by 2x catastrophic consequences for US including full nuclear strike in case of any US retaliation.
Russia should never have allowed US to control the escalation ladder, it’s a serious mistake on Putin part.