US, Russia to sign major nuke reduction treaty

The US and Russia, countries with the largest nuclear stockpiles, have reached an agreement to considerably reduce their atomic weapons, in a landmark deal that could "reset" relations between the Cold War rivals.

The agreement has been reached between US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Demetry Medvedev and will be signed by the two leaders in Prague on April 8, the the White House announced on Friday.

"In a phone call this morning, President Obama and President Medvedev agreed to meet in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Thursday, April 8, to sign the Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures to Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the 'New START Treaty')," White House said.

This landmark agreement advances the security of both nations, and reaffirms American and Russian leadership on behalf of nuclear security and global non-proliferation. "This was the 14th direct meeting or phone call between the presidents addressing New START, and represents their shared commitment to 'reset' US-Russia relations so that we cooperate substantively and effectively on issues of mutual interest along many dimensions," it said.

The new treaty will contain limits on US and Russian nuclear forces significantly below the levels established by the START treaty signed in 1991, and the Moscow Treaty signed in 2002. The new START Treaty will specify limits of 1,550 deployed warheads, which is about 30 per cent lower than the upper limit on warheads set at the Moscow Treaty; 800 deployed and non-deployed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launchers, submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons; and 700 for deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear weapons.

The White House said the treaty's verification regime will provide the ability to monitor all aspects related to it. "At the same time, the inspections and other verification procedures in this Treaty will be simpler and less costly to implement than the old START treaty. In part, this is possible due to the experience and knowledge gained from 15 years of START implementation," it said.

Obama and Medvedev agreed that the new Treaty demonstrates the continuing commitment of the US and Russia - the world's two largest nuclear powers - to reduce their nuclear arsenals consistent with their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Such actions invigorate our mutual efforts to strengthen the international nonproliferation regime and convince other countries to help curb proliferation.

"As articulated by President Obama in his Prague speech one year ago, this Treaty is one of a series of concrete steps the US will take to reduce the number and role of nuclear weapons and to set the stage for further reductions in global nuclear stockpiles and materials," the White House said.