US, Russia to reduce nukes

2009-07-06 18:27

Moscow - President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev struck a preliminary deal on Monday to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear warheads to as few as 1 500 each, pointing the two countries' arsenals toward lower levels than in any previous arms control agreement.

The document signed by the two leaders at a Moscow summit, Obama's first in Russia, is meant as a guide for negotiators as the nations work toward a replacement pact for the START arms control agreement that expires in December. Each country now has about 2 000 warheads.

The joint understanding completed by Obama and Medvedev, signed after about three hours of talks at the Kremlin, also commits the two nations to lower long-range missiles for delivering nuclear bombs to between 500 and 1 100. 

Military co-operation

It was announced at the same time that the US and Russia were resuming military co-operation suspended after Russia invaded its smaller neighbour Georgia last year. 

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Admiral Mike Mullen and his Russian counterpart signed an outline for renewed military contacts. The White House announced that the two nations plan 20 exchanges and meeting this year. 

For example, Russian military cadets will come to the US Military Academy at West Point. The two countries also plan a joint exercise to respond to a plane hijacking. 

US and Russian relations were at a low point following the August 2008 conflict in Georgia.

- AP