New START Passes in Senate Foreign Relations Committee

On Thursday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the resolutions for Advice and Consent for the New START treaty by a vote of 14-4. The treaty will obligate the US and Russia to cap their fielded strategic nuclear weapons at 1,550 and deployed nuclear delivery vehicles would be limited to 700. It would reestablish US inspections and surveillance of Russian nuclear weapons and facilities. Since the expiration of the 1991 START agreement last year, that oversight had lapsed.

New START has overwhelming support of the military leaders and national security experts of both parties. Among those who have come out in support of the treaty are Colin Powell, James Baker Brent Scowcroft, James Schlesinger and Henry Kissinger. Now, with the support of three Republican members in the SRFC, it is more likely that New START will have the votes necessary to pass if brought to the Senate floor.

In order to help secure Republican votes, the committee approved an Advice and Consent resolution, drafted by Richard Lugar (R-IN) that would prohibit a U.S.-Russian panel established in the treaty from making independent agreements on missile defenses, and establishes a Bilateral Consultative Commission to ensure that the Senate is consulted on any changes to the treaty. The resolution includes a requirement that the President must submit a plan to Congress for overcoming any resource shortfall in his ten-year plan to modernize the US’s nuclear weapons stockpile.

Is Senate ratification of New START likely in light of such strong bipartisan support? What are the next steps toward ratification of New START? How much do opponents believe is needed to properly modernize the US’s nuclear complex? What happens to relations with Russia if there is no vote on New START?