United States President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, will sign a treaty on Thursday that slashes their two nations’ atomic arsenals, boosting Obama’s vision of a nuclear-free world.
The signing will take place in Prague, where Obama gave a keynote speech last year committing the US to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons.
Obama had pushed hard for the new treaty in a bid to improve strained ties with Moscow and set an example for the rest of the world as he seeks to strengthen global non-proliferation efforts.
If ratified by the US Senate and Russia’s Parliament, the new treaty will replace the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which expired in December.
The so-called “new START” will limit the two former Cold War foes to a maximum of 1 550 deployed warheads, about 30% lower than a previous upper limit on warheads set in 2002.
It also imposes limits on the intercontinental ballistic missiles needed to deliver the warheads.
Moscow and Washington agreed the treaty after months of tough negotiations bogged down by various disagreements, particularly over US missile defence plans that Russia opposes.
The signing ceremony is scheduled to take place in the richly adorned Spanish Hall of Prague Castle, the official residence of the Czech president.
Iran in the spotlight
Ahead of the signing, Obama and Medvedev are due to hold talks on hot-button international issues such as Iran’s nuclear programme.
The Obama administration has been seeking Russian support at the United Nations Security Council for tougher sanctions against Iran.
Following the signing, Obama and Medvedev are scheduled to give a joint press conference.
Obama left the White House late on Wednesday and was expected in Prague on Thursday, while Medvedev arrived in the Czech capital on Wednesday evening.
The new US-Russian treaty will have broad implications for global security, Medvedev said shortly after he arrived in Prague and met with Czech President Vaclav Klaus.
“The treaty is an important document on which the overall situation in nuclear disarmament depends to a great extent — and so does, speaking in general, the overall situation on the planet,” Medvedev said.
Also on Thursday, Obama will meet 11 leaders from eastern and central Europe, whose countries have fretted about eroding support from Washington as the Obama administration pursues closer ties with Russia.
Thousands of police have been deployed to provide security in Prague during the US-Russian summit. — AFP