The Soviet-US Strategic Nuclear and Space Talks: Problems and Prospects

When people speak of reductions in the world’s nuclear arsenals, they refer primarily to the ongoing Soviet-US Nuclear and Space Talks (NST). This forum was designed to negotiate a treaty on quite substantial, 50 per cent reductions in the Soviet and US arsenals of strategic offensive arms, and work has since proceeded apace. Success in that endeavour would make a tangible contribution to ridding the world of nuclear arms and ensuring a safer future for all. Importantly, that contribution would be not only of material but also of psychological importance, for the Soviet Union and the United States would thus have consolidated the positive trend toward reducing nuclear arms launched by the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. So as we discuss the status of these Soviet-US negotiations, we are basically discussing the prospects for and consequences of reductions in nuclear arsenals. Let us now turn to the current situation at these negotiations.