After decades of tension between the two countries, President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev both signed a treaty Thursday that will decrease the number of nuclear weapons in both states.
The nuclear arms pact requires both nations decrease their nuclear warheads by one-third and eliminate over half the number of missiles, submarines and bombers.
According to a White House statement, the agreement will limit the number of warheads each country is allowed to hold from 2,200 to 1,550 within a seven year period.
“Finally, this day demonstrates the determination of the United States and Russia — the two nations that hold over 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons — to pursue responsible global leadership,” Obama said at the treaty signing ceremony, according to a statement.
Echoing Obama’s optimism for a better relationship between the two nations was Medvedev.
“What matters most is that this is a win-win situation. No one stands to lose from this agreement,” Medvedev said at the same event.
Obama also took the opportunity to comment on how the treaty would affect other countries, including Iran.
In Obama’s opinion, the treaty shows the United States takes nuclear non-proliferation treaties seriously, and those who disobey such treaties will face consequences.
“We are working together at the UN Security Council to pass strong sanctions on Iran,” Obama said at the event.
University of Wisconsin professor of international relations Jon Pevehouse said the improvement in the relationship between the two countries is most significant in the impact it will have on other countries who have defied nuclear non-proliferation agreements.
“The important thing about this is that it paves a better relationship for pursuing sanctions against Iran,” Pevehouse said.
Among those who support the agreement is UW professor of political science Andrew Kydd, who said it demonstrated a move toward a “better climate” between the United States and Russia.
“This is a significant step in improving US-Russia relations, which have really fallen during the time of the second Bush’s administration,” Kydd said.
Also supporting the move is UW professor of international history Jeremi Suri, who called the agreement “phenomenally important.”
In Suri’s opinion, there are many disadvantages to having the large arsenal of nuclear weapons both nations possess, including the threat of such weapons getting into the wrong hands.
“These large arsenals of weapons pose a lot of risks and don’t pose a lot of benefits,” Suri said.
Suri also gave credit to Obama for pursuing this treaty, despite a rocky term thus far.
“This is a case where Obama has shown a lot of initiative,” Suri said.
However, before the nuclear arms pact is finalized, it must be ratified by both the Russian and U.S. Legislature.
In order to ratify the treaty in the Senate, 67 Senators must vote for it. With 59 Democratic members of the Senate, the treaty will need some Republican support, a feat which may prove trying after the heated debate regarding health care reform.
Despite this, Obama remains convinced members of Congress will see the merit of the treaty, and it will ultimately pass.
“I feel confident that we are going to be able to get it ratified,” Obama said.
