Sen. McCain and Support for CTBT
Jul 27, 2009

Just in from the Global Security Newswire:

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he no longer opposes the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, potentially putting the Obama administration one vote closer to ratifying the international pledge to cease all nuclear weapons tests, the Associated Press reported.

McCain said he would consider voting to approve the ban, which he voted against a decade ago although he said he had lingering doubts. "The devil is in the details," he said. "If we could get it done, if it is acceptable, then it is a step forward on the path to the president's goal and mine of a nuclear-free world."

If McCain supported the treaty, Obama would only need six additional Republican votes to be able to pass the ban, which he has made part of his nonproliferation agenda.

...Another potentially undecided vote is Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), who, despite his outspoken advocacy for nuclear nonproliferation, says he has not decided whether he would support a comprehensive ban on testing.