5-3-4-1The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

President Obama of the United States (left) and President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia (right) shaking hands after signing the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START)
April 8, 2010 Prague, Czech Courtesy of EPA / Jiji Press, Ltd

The new treaty regarding U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arms calls for reduction of delivery vehicles, such as missiles and bombers, as well as the warheads they carry. Seven years after coming into effect, this agreement is to reduce the number of nuclear warheads to 1,550 or less, the number of deployed delivery vehicles to 700 or less, and total deployed and undeployed delivery vehicles to 800 or less. This represents a reduction of one-third beyond the goal of the previous reduction treaty, and for the first time, undeployed delivery vehicles were controlled and a concrete goal was stated. It also provided for a strict verification system, including on-site inspections.