U.S. -Soviet Arms Talks: A Primer

Publication Date: May 1986

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Manfred R. Hamm

Research Area: Military and defense

Keywords: Russia and Eurasia

Type: Report

Coverage: Soviet Union

Abstract:

There is a wide conceptual gap separating the U.S. and Soviet proposals. Both aim at drastic offensive force reductions but for totally different ends. Moscow seeks to halt the U.S. SDI program by tying deep cuts in offensive nuclear arsenals to crippling restrictions on missile defense programs. Moreover, Moscow's proposal establishes its outright strategic supremacy over the U.S., thus revealing Soviet disinterest in a stable and equitable force balance with the U.S. By contrast, this is the goal of the U.S. proposal and, indeed, should be the true purpose of arms control.