New START advances in Russia
Feb 01, 2011

UPDATE: 2/5/11 New START enters into force during an international conference in Munich, Germany. UPDATE: 2/2/11 President Obama signed the New START treaty with Russia on February 2.

On December 22nd, after a long, hard fight, the United States Senate gave its advice and consent to New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. The final vote was 71-26 in favor of ratification.

Then the treaty had to go through additional  steps before it entered into force.

Although the Russians waited until after the United States Senate voted, getting this treaty through both houses of their Parliament was just a bit easier, which may have something to do with a somewhat less robust democracy in that country.

On December 24th, the Duma, which is Russia’s lower house, gave its preliminary approval of the treaty 350-58.