In the weeks since the New START was signed on April 8, committing Russia and the United States to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals to 800 delivery vehicles and 1,550 warheads, Russian security analysts have been debating whether Moscow should decrease its nuclear arsenal any further or whether this would weaken the country’s national security.
Many liberal-leaning analysts argue that Russia, in unison with the United States, can and should reduce the number of warheads to 1,000 or lower.
But the consensus among leading conservatives is that if the two sides reduce their nuclear arms to these levels, Russia’s nuclear deterrence will be rendered ineffective against the United States. This is a Cold War-era argument that is needlessly stoking public fear — and all with the support of a Kremlin that is supposed to be resetting ties with the United States.
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