TREATY: START I
CHAPTER: Tensions
The late 20th century was marked by an intense arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union, two superpowers locked in a Cold War that spanned decades. By the 1980s, both nations had amassed vast arsenals of nuclear weapons, capable of annihilating each other several times over. This period saw the development of increasingly sophisticated delivery systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers. The sheer scale of these arsenals posed an existential threat not only to the two nations but to the entire world.
The impetus for negotiation arose from several factors. Firstly, the economic burden of maintaining such large arsenals was becoming unsustainable, particularly for the Soviet Union, which was grappling with economic stagnation. The Soviet economy was under significant strain, with defense spending consuming a substantial portion of the national budget. Estimates suggest that military expenditures accounted for as much as 15-17% of the Soviet GDP during the 1980s. This economic pressure necessitated a reevaluation of priorities, leading to a greater openness to arms reduction talks.
Secondly, the political landscape was shifting, with the rise of leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev, who advocated for reform and openness, known as glasnost and perestroika. These policies aimed to revitalize the Soviet economy and society, necessitating a reduction in military expenditures. Gorbachev’s leadership marked a departure from the hardline policies of his predecessors, fostering a climate more amenable to negotiation and cooperation with the West.
International pressure also played a crucial role. The global community, aware of the catastrophic potential of nuclear war, increasingly called for disarmament. Organizations like the United Nations and various non-governmental organizations pushed for negotiations to reduce nuclear arsenals, emphasizing the need for global security and stability. The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which came into force in 1970, laid the groundwork for international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote disarmament.
The strategic stalemate, known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), where neither side could realistically win a nuclear war, further underscored the necessity of arms control. Both nations recognized that the continued escalation of the arms race was not only dangerous but also futile. The concept of MAD, which had dominated strategic thinking since the 1960s, was increasingly seen as an unsustainable and perilous status quo.
The Reykjavik Summit in 1986, although not resulting in an immediate agreement, established the conditions for future negotiations. It demonstrated the willingness of both superpowers to engage in dialogue, despite their deep-seated ideological differences. The summit highlighted the potential for significant arms reductions and laid the groundwork for subsequent treaties. The discussions at Reykjavik were groundbreaking, as they included proposals for the elimination of all ballistic missiles, although these ambitious goals were not realized at the time.
By the late 1980s, the political climate was ripe for negotiation. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), signed in 1987, was a precursor to START I, eliminating an entire class of nuclear weapons and setting a precedent for further reductions. The INF Treaty was significant as it marked the first time the superpowers agreed to eliminate an entire category of nuclear weapons, leading to the destruction of 2,692 missiles by the treaty’s deadline in 1991.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the subsequent collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe further shifted the geopolitical landscape. These events signaled the end of the Cold War, creating an environment conducive to arms reduction talks. The dissolution of the Eastern Bloc reduced the ideological and military tensions that had fueled the arms race, paving the way for more constructive engagement between the United States and the Soviet Union.
In 1990, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed to begin formal negotiations on a treaty to reduce their strategic nuclear arsenals. This decision was driven by a mutual recognition of the need to enhance global security and reduce the risk of nuclear conflict. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) negotiations were complex, involving detailed discussions on verification measures, counting rules, and the reduction of delivery vehicles and warheads.
The stakes were high. Successful negotiations could lead to a significant reduction in the threat of nuclear war, while failure could perpetuate the arms race and increase global insecurity. Both nations had much to gain from a successful treaty, including economic relief and enhanced international standing. The treaty aimed to reduce the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 6,000 for each side, with a limit of 1,600 delivery vehicles, including ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers.
The treaty also included comprehensive verification measures, such as on-site inspections, data exchanges, and the use of national technical means (NTM) to monitor compliance. These provisions were crucial in building trust and ensuring that both parties adhered to the terms of the agreement. The verification regime established by START I set a new standard for arms control agreements, providing a model for future treaties.
Thus, the groundwork had been laid for the negotiations that would culminate in the signing of START I, a treaty that would reshape the strategic landscape and mark a new era in U.S.-Soviet relations. The treaty was signed on July 31, 1991, by U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. It entered into force on December 5, 1994, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, with the newly independent states of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine also becoming parties to the treaty.
The long-term impact of START I was significant. It not only reduced the number of nuclear weapons and delivery systems but also established a framework for future arms control agreements, including START II and the New START Treaty. Scholars have assessed START I as a pivotal moment in the history of arms control, demonstrating the potential for cooperation between former adversaries in addressing global security challenges. The treaty’s success underscored the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in resolving complex international issues, setting a precedent for future efforts to promote peace and stability in a post-Cold War world.