19 May New START
New START
This article covers “Daily Current Affairs” and the topic details “New START”. The topic “New START” has relevance in the International Relations and nuclear non proliferation section for the UPSC CSE exam.
Relevance of the topic “New START”
For Prelims:
What is New START?
For Mains:
GS 2:International Relations
What is the role of New START in Nuclear non proliferation?
Why in the news?
The United States of America has announced that it has 1,419 deployed nuclear warheads , as it also requested Russia to release its warhead data under the New START.
The USA said it was releasing the data in public domain as part of its commitments under the New START Treaty, reversing its earlier decision of not sharing the data.
The step comes after in February, amid a sharp deterioration in relations since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was suspending Russia’s participation in the agreement.
What is New START?
The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a bilateral nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia. It was signed on April 8, 2010, and entered into force on February 5, 2011. The treaty was envisaged to limit and reduce the number of strategic nuclear weapons in possession of both the superpowers.
Objective of New START?
The main goal of the New START treaty is to enhance strategic stability between the United States and Russia by reducing and limiting their deployed strategic nuclear weapons.
Role of New START in Nuclear non proliferation?
- Limitation on Nuclear Warheads: Under the treaty, both countries agreed to a limit of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads each. These warheads are deployed on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers.
- Limitation on Delivery Vehicles: The treaty also imposes limits on the number of deployed and non-deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons. These limits are aimed at ensuring that the overall nuclear arsenal of each country remains within the agreed-upon parameters
- Transparency and Verification: The New START treaty includes robust verification measures, such as on-site inspections, data exchanges, and notifications. These measures allow both countries to monitor and verify each other’s compliance with the treaty’s provisions.
- Duration of the Treaty: The treaty has a duration of ten years but can be extended by mutual agreement for up to five years. In 2021, the United States and Russia agreed to extend the treaty until February 5, 2026.
The New START treaty is an important arms control agreement between the two largest nuclear powers, aimed at reducing the risk of nuclear conflict and promoting strategic stability. It provides a framework for ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the United States and Russia regarding their nuclear arsenals.
Reference:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/16/us-releases-nuclear-warhead-data-in-bid-to-pressure-russia
Q.1 The NEW START treaty, which was signed on April 8, 2010, is an agreement primarily focused on the reduction of what type of weapons?
(a) Chemical weapons
(b) Biological weapons
(c) Conventional weapons
(d) Strategic nuclear weapons
Answer:(d)
Q.2 Which agreement was signed in 2010 between the United States and Russia, aiming to limit the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems?
(a) START I
(b) INF Treaty
(c) CTBT
(d) NEW START
Answer:(d)
Q.3 Discuss the significance of the New START treaty in the context of nuclear non-proliferation efforts. (10 marks)
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