US ratifies nuclear treaty

US: The US Senate ratified Wednesday a landmark nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, handing President Barack Obama a signal diplomatic and political victory after a months-long battle.

Lawmakers voted 71-26 in favour of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), easily clearing the two-thirds majority needed to approve the pact, which Obama had made a lynchpin of efforts to “reset” relations with Moscow.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov welcomed the move but said Moscow needed time to “study” the US documents before doing the same, noting the text had been amended since its initial draft.

Prior to approving the treaty, lawmakers attached non-binding amendments to the resolution of ratification technical document to recommit Washington to deploying a missile defense system, modernizing its nuclear arsenal, and seek new talks with Russia on curbing tactical nuclear weapons.

The ratification was a signal of “efforts to ensure the dynamic development of bilateral relations” between the former Cold War foes, Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

US President Barack Obama savored Senate approval of the START treaty shortly after signing a historic law to enable gays to serve openly in the US military for the first time in history, another unlikely triumph in the waning days of his Democratic allies’ control over the polarized Congress.

A Republican romp in November 2 elections means the White House’s foes, who battled tooth and nail to stall both presidential priorities, will control the House of Representatives and have a more robust Senate minority come January.

The START treaty, which must still be ratified by Russia’s parliament, restricts the former Cold War foes to a maximum of 1,550 deployed warheads each, a cut of about 30 percent from a limit set in 2002, and 800 launchers and bombers.

It would resume mutual on-the-ground inspections of nuclear facilities, which lapsed when the accord’s predecessor expired in December 2009.

“This is the most significant arms control agreement in nearly two decades and it will make us safer and reduce our nuclear arsenals along with Russia,” Obama told a year-end press conference.

“The strong bipartisan vote in the senate sends a powerful signal to the world that Republicans and Democrats stand together on behalf of our security.” Washington, Thursday, AFP