The United States and Russia both have confirmed they are in compliance with the New START treaty.
The Federation of American Scientists applauded the achievement as a bright spot in anotherwise troubled relationship.
“At a time when relations between the two countries are at a post-Cold War low and defense hawks in both countries are screaming for new nuclear weapons and declaring arms control dead, the achievement couldn’t be more timely or important,” wrote Hans Kristensen, the director of the Nuclear Information Project at FAS.
“This all points to the importance of the two countries agreeing to extend the New START treaty for an additional five years before it expires in 2021,” he explained. “Neither can afford to abandon the only strategic limitations treaty and its verification regime.
“Failing this most basic responsibility would, especially in the current political climate, remove any caps on strategic nuclear forces and potentially open
