Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Demarcation and Succession Agreements: Background and Issues

Publication Date: April 2000

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Government; Military and defense

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Abstract:

This report discusses the content of and issues related to the ABM Treaty Succession and Demarcation Agreements signed in September 1997. The Senate will be asked to provide its advice and consent to the ratification of these agreements as amendments to the 1972 ABM Treaty. The House may also review the implications of these agreements when it debates U.S. national and theater ballistic missile defense programs. The report begins with a brief overview of the 1972 ABM Treaty and a summary of the circumstances that led to negotiations on the new agreements. It then describes the rationale for the negotiations and the substance of the agreements. The report also contains a discussion of issues, such as the role of Congress in reviewing the agreements, the implications of the agreements for U.S. missile defense programs, and their relationship to strategic offensive arms reductions, that have come up during debates on Defense Authorization and Appropriations legislation. The Senate may address many of these issues when the Administration submits the agreements for its review. This report will be updated as events warrant.