For Peace, America Must Negotiate From Strength
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By John Maurer
June 17, 2020
In an era of global pandemic, economic downturn, and social unrest, a growing chorus of voices is advising Congress to reduce spending on nuclear modernization in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. This advice is misguided. In order to build a new arms control framework, the United States must negotiate from a position of strength. Slowing nuclear modernization would end any hope for arms control, even as the United States is pursuing new negotiations aimed at curbing competition between the United States, Russia, and China. Only a commitment to modernization of American nuclear forces will bring adversaries to engage in serious discussions about long-term nuclear restraint. In the meantime, the United States should take sensible steps to slow the growth of adversary forces, including extending the New START treaty with Russia, which further reduces and limits strategic offensive arms (including ICBMs, SLBMs, nuclear equipped-heavy bombers, and nuclear warheads).
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/06/17/for_peace_america_must_negotiate_from_strength_115386
