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Ploughshares Blog: Us–Russia

What if the “madman” is us?
The following is the first in a series of guest posts from graduate students reflecting on the 25th anniversary of Rekyavik.  October marked the 25th anniversary of the Reykjavik summit—an unprecedented event that many nuclear disarmament advocates claim brought us close to an agreement between the Cold War superpowers on the drastic disarmament and eventual abolition of nuclear weapons. President Ronald Reagan’s refusal to scrap the U.S. strategic defense initiative (SDI), or “Star Wars,” is said to have been the nail in the coffin for such an agreement at Reykjavik. Read more »
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Posted by admin on November 15, 2011
Guest, Nuclear Zero, Reagan, Reykjavik, Student, US–Russia
Putin’s Return to the Russian Presidency and U.S.-Russian Arms Control
The following is a guest post by Steven Pifer.  In a speech to the United Russia party on Saturday, President Dmitri Medvedev announced his intention to step aside so that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin can return to the presidency next spring. The Russians still have an election to hold in March, but one can predict the outcome with assurance. While his ratings have declined since his first two terms as president, Putin remains the most popular politician in Russia. The state’s bureaucratic and financial resources will mobilize to support his candidacy, and no serious opposition candidate has emerged. Read more »
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Posted by admin on September 29, 2011
arms control, Diplomacy, Brookings, Elections, Medvedyev, Putin, Steve Pifer, US–Russia
Missile Defense: Big Risk, Little Reward?
In a difficult fiscal environment, the United States continues to throw billions of dollars down the drain on missile defense systems.  Instead of making us more secure, the system has limited capabilities to actually protect the United States and its allies.  And it makes Russian (and Chinese) military planners nervous, a situation that could quickly spiral out of control and into a Cold War-esque arms race. Read more »
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Posted by Kelly Bronk on September 26, 2011
Missile Defense, US–Russia
When Everybody Said It Couldn't Be Done...
The 111th Congress was one of the most productive in decades. But the lame-duck session was truly remarkable. Just a few days before the end of the session, 72 Senators voted to provide the advice and consent necessary to ratify the New START treaty, reducing the nuclear arsenals of both the US and Russia by a third, and putting arms inspectors back on the ground to verify those reductions. Read more »
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Posted by admin on August 24, 2011
new start, Russia, US–Russia, Ploughshares Fund, United States
Post-START
Fewer but newer. That seems to be the general trend for the U.S. and Russia as they simultaneously reduce their nuclear stockpiles while spending billions to update their weapons systems. This turn of events, on the heels of New START, creates opportunities and challenges for policymakers working to reduce the nuclear threat. Read more »
Posted by Ben Loehrke on June 30, 2011
Nuclear disarmament, Nuclear proliferation, US–Russia, United States
A Policy Victory Offers a Blueprint for Grant Makers and Advocacy
In todayʼs bitter and polarized political environment, many nonprofits and grant makers may conclude that it is impossible to get things done—and not worth investing in advocacy. But a major bipartisan victory our foundation and grantees achieved in the Senate is perhaps illustrative of what it takes to succeed, and how grant makers need to think differently about their approach, no matter how daunting the economic downturn or political obstacles. Read more »
Posted by Naila Bolus on June 27, 2011
Board of Trustees, Carnegie Corporation, Colombe Foundation, D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Nuclear Weapons, partners, U.S. Foreign Policy, US–Russia, United States
The X-Men Didn't Save Us
It wasn't the mutants. It was humans that caused the Cuban Missile Crisis. Only luck saved us from nuclear war. But other than that, the new film, X-Men: First Class, gets a lot right about the historic crisis that is central to its plot. Read more »
Posted by Joe Cirincione on June 16, 2011
Missile Defense, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy, US–Russia, Nuclear Terrorism, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Military Strategy, Missiles & Space, Other, United States
Obama Administration Stays the Course on Test Ban
Yesterday a high-ranking U.S. official, Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher, gave a speech in which she stated the U.S. government’s intent to move ahead with ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Read more »
Posted by Paul Carroll on May 11, 2011
US–Russia, U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States
Defense Experts Outline Next Steps for U.S.-Russian Nuclear Security
The Sustainable Partnership with Russia Group, or SuPR Group, today launched a report with recommendations for the U.S. and Russia to continue working toward reductions in their nuclear stockpiles and to tackle top security challenges, including nuclear proliferation.  "American national security interests are best served by shedding the unnecessary weapons and concepts of the Cold War,” said Joe Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund, a participant and supporter of the Group.  Read more »
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Posted by Sarah Beth Cross on May 4, 2011
Nuclear States, Missile Defense, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy, US–Russia, Proliferation, U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States
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Five Next Steps to Increase American Security
This article was co-authored by Ploughshares Fund President Joe Cirincione and Program Officer Haleh Hatami There's one less threat to America this week, but there are 21,000 others waiting to explode. That's the number of nuclear weapons in the U.S. and Russia. In a new report, experts from both nations warn of the dangers and offer five easy steps towards a solution. Read more »
Posted by Reid Pauly on May 4, 2011
Cooperative Threat Reduction, Missile Defense, Nuclear Weapons, US–Russia, U.S. Nuclear Policy