US Ready to Negotiate Nuclear Weapons Reduction - Obama

US President Barack Obama said in a statement on the 45th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that the United States is reducing strategic nuclear weapon stockpile to the lowest levels in more than a half century, and the US is prepared to negotiate further reductions.

 

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States are ready to continue reducing their nuclear weapons arsenal and negotiate additional reductions, US President Barack Obama said in a statement issued on Thursday on the 45th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

“Under New START [Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty] and in conformity with our NPT obligations, we are reducing our strategic nuclear weapon stockpile to the lowest levels in more than a half century, and we are prepared to negotiate further reductions, while protecting our security and that of our friends and allies around the world,” Obama stated.

Obama stressed that the United States reduced the size of its nuclear weapons arsenal during his presidency, and called on other countries to strengthen the NPT regime.

“As we prepare for the Ninth Review Conference of the NPT, the United States stands ready to work with other NPT Parties to achieve a successful outcome that reinforces the vitality of this Treaty which is so fundamental to global security,” the president said.

Obama also noted that the global nuclear stockpiles are at their lowest levels since the 1950s.

NPT is an international agreement signed in 1968 and effective since 1970, which ensures the prevention of the spread of nuclear weapons and technology.

The main concepts of the treaty, its so-called “pillars” consist of non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. There are 189 states party to the treaty, including Iran.

The first START was signed in 1991 by the then presidents George H. W. Bush of the United States and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union. The treaty expired in 2009 and another deal, called New START, was signed between Russia and the United States in 2010 that came into force the following year.

New START stipulates limiting the number of deployed ballistic missiles and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments to 700, the number of deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 and deployed and non-deployed launchers to 800.

New Start obliges the two countries to meet the stipulated limits on strategic arms by February 5, 2018.

The treaty is valid until 2021 but may be extended for an additional period of up to five years.