Russia to Sign a Nuclear Reduction Treaty with the U.S.

Russia and the U.S. are on the verge of signing a nuclear arms reduction treaty that would greatly reduce the number of nuclear warheads and delivery vehicles, according to the New York Times. The two countries hope to have the agreement signed in time for it to set an example for an international conference in May. This landmark agreement has mended relations between the two largest nuclear arms holders after relations hit a post-cold war low with Russia's war with Georgia in 2008. President Obama and President Medvedev initially laid out plans last year to forge a successor to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start I), but a plan was not concluded by the time the treaty expired on December 5th. Among the remaining details that need to be worked out is the agreement on the exact amount of arms reduction. Currently the two countries plan to reduce nuclear warheads from current levels to 1,500 to 1,675, and delivery vehicles from 500 to 1,100. In order to pass, the agreement must be ratified by law makers in both countries, and other issues remain, such as how to monitor and verify the treaty's terms.

The renewed relations between Russia and the U.S. allow one to see how international relations reflects hugely on a country. Russia has undergone a great change in political culture since the fall of the Soviet Union, and among the top issues in the state is international relations. Plus, the reduction of nuclear arms portrays a desire for peace, a thought that hasn't been on the top of these countries' lists for quite some time. Not to mention that more countries feel safer dealing with Russia economically when it has the U.S. as an ally. The Russian oligarch that owns Rusel aluminum processing is now closer to instituting an I.P.O with Hong Kong. Russian has long been a world superpower, but the country still needs to improve its world status, and the government is finally taking steps to do just that.

Photo Credit: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2009/04/01/2009-04-01

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Shawna Taets