U.S., Russia at odds over warheads

The Washington Post

MOSCOW — A dispute over what to do with decommissioned nuclear warheads threatens to complicate efforts by the United States and Russia to sharply reduce their Cold War arsenals, as leaders here accused Washington of breaking faith with arms control commitments made in November.

The Pentagon announced this week that the United States would keep and store some of the warheads it takes off line rather than destroy them. The Russian government and its political allies complained that such a move would undercut the value of mutual arms cuts since the United States could simply reactivate nuclear weapons on short notice.

"Of course, we stand for interpreting the reduction of nuclear armaments as their disarmament," Dmitri Rogozin, chairman of the international affairs committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament, said Friday. The panel’s deputy chairman, Konstantin Kosachyov, said the U.S. intention to store warheads amounted to a "desire to hide an ax in the bosom."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not addressed the Pentagon announcement, but his Foreign Ministry issued a terse statement insisting that any cuts be "irreversible so that strategic offensive weapons can be cut not only ‘on paper.’ "

The disagreement, a longstanding feature of arms talks between the two nuclear powers, re-emerged two months after Putin and President Bush exchanged promises at a Washington summit to enact deep reductions in strategic nuclear warheads. Bush pledged to cut the U.S. arsenal from about 6,000 to between 1,700 and 2,200. Putin responded with a vow to cut two-thirds, essentially committing to his previous proposal to go down to 1,500 warheads.

Putin has pushed Bush to put their pledges into writing, preferably in the form of a treaty that can be verified. Bush has resisted, saying it was enough to shake hands on the issue, but has agreed to talk about crafting a joint statement of some kind.

Under the complicated counting procedures enshrined in past arms control treaties, both sides have maintained some of their deactivated warheads in reserve without violating negotiated ceilings. However, the United States has kept far more and has a greater financial capacity for continuing to do so.

Even as Bush and Putin were trading their plans in November, Russian officials cautioned that they did not believe the U.S. military would live up to the goal of disarmament because stored warheads could be placed back in active service. The announcement by Assistant Defense Secretary J.D. Crouch this week seemed to confirm those concerns, although he did not specify how many warheads would be stored instead of destroyed.

Some analysts cautioned against reading too much into the renewed disagreement. "I cannot find any military value for keeping these warheads," said Alexander Savelyev, head of the strategic studies department at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations in Moscow.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Hundreds rally against Trump on Presidents Day in Everett

People lined Broadway with signs and flags, similar to other protests across the country

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.