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The Military Case for Extending the New START Agreement

by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Frank G. Klotz

“By capping the number of Russian long-range ballistic missiles and nuclear-equipped heavy bombers and putting in place comprehensive verification measures, New START reduces uncertainty regarding Russian nuclear forces and thereby provides the U.S. military with greater confidence in its own plans and capabilities.

Therefore, national security policymakers need to be conversant on the key provisions of New START, the ways in which the treaty supports U.S. military objectives, and the broader political context in which the current debate over its extension is taking place. This Perspective addresses each of these topics in turn. The author concluded that the United States should seek now to extend the treaty to gain the time needed to negotiate a replacement agreement that addresses a broader range of nuclear delivery systems and China’s growing nuclear capability.“

Read the full eBook, published in 2020 by the RAND Corporation, here.

(Image credit: Kremlin, President of Russia website)

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Frank G. Klotz

Lieutenant General Frank G. Klotz is the Department of Energy’s Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). He has more than 20 years experience in both military positions and policy and management roles, with his time at the U.S. Embassy Moscow leading to a particular specialism in U.S.-Russian relations.