Finish the New START Treaty
On Dec. 5, 2009, the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) between the United States and Russia expired. This treaty limited how many nuclear warheads and other nuclear equipment each country could have.
The two countries -- which together hold 95 percent of the world's nuclear warheads -- have been in negotiations over a new, updated START treaty for nearly a year. Despite President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev reaching substantive agreements to cut the number of warheads and other pieces of nuclear equipment last July, they missed last year's deadline and talks continue.
Obama has made nuclear non-proliferation a centerpiece of his foreign policy, and has often stated that his goal is to see a nuclear-free world. This April he will host a non-proliferation summit. A new START treaty is a crucial step toward making good on these promises.
If Obama wants to see a world without nuclear weapons, he needs to lead the effort to disarm at home. Urge Obama to quickly finish the START treaty and begin reducing our nuclear arsenal.
Dear President Obama,
I am writing you today to encourage you to finish the new START treaty with Russia as soon as possible.
The 1991 START I treaty expired last year, and while it's guidelines are still in effect, it's high time we negotiate a new, post-Cold War treaty that deals with our nuclear issues today.
You have repeatedly advocated for nuclear non-proliferation and spoken about your dream for a world without nuclear weapons. Together, the United States and Russia own 95 percent of the world's nuclear warheads. A new, strong commitment by these two countries toward disarmament would send a powerful no-nuclear message.
Negotiations over the new START treaty began almost a year ago, and substantive agreements about the number of warheads and other nuclear equipment the U.S. and Russia can own have been in place since last July. It's time to get moving and get the new treaty officially approved and into practice.
I urge you to do everything you can to finish the new START treaty as soon as possible and make good on your promises to work toward a no-nuclear future.
