Bush and Putin reach ‘son of Star Wars’ deal
US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin have pledged to pursue deep cuts in their nuclear arsenals and link the offensive weapons talks to tougher negotiations over Bush’s missile defence plans.
Their differences still deep, both leaders hailed the surprise announcement in Genoa, Italy, as a step toward forging a stronger US-Russian relationship.
Bush has sought to link offensive and defence weapons strategies since early in his presidential campaign.
‘‘The two go hand-in-hand in order to set up a new strategic framework for peace,’’ Bush said, standing beside Putin after their second one-to-one meeting yesterday. ‘‘I believe that we will come up with an accord.’’
Soon after he became president, Bush directed the Pentagon to consider further cuts in nuclear weapons, while Putin has suggested reductions to 1,500 warheads each - about one-fifth of the current US stockpile.
Though sceptical of Bush’s missile shield dreams, the Russian president said nuclear cuts would make the world a safer place. ‘‘There has to be absolutely no doubt that this is going to happen,’’ Putin said.
But there is still significant doubt about how Putin will respond if an agreement is not reached before the US begins anti-missile tests prohibited by a 29-year-old arms control treaty.
The Pentagon says those tests are months, not years, away and will proceed over Russia’s objections. Bush calls the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty a Cold War relic.
Putin, as the first speaker at their joint news conference, which followed 90 minutes of meetings, announced the agreement to link the two issues and cut both arsenals back significantly.
It was a striking statement from the hard-line former KGB chief who has warned he may strengthen his nuclear arsenal with multiple warheads if the US develops a missile shield that violates the ABM treaty.
At the same time, Putin has looked for ways to reduce the immense cost of stockpiling thousands of Cold War weapons. There also could be a political benefit for Putin: the linked arms talks ensures Russia a role as Bush reshapes US defence strategy that he says will include a missile defence system whether or not Moscow agrees.
Bush, for his part, is hoping to win Russian acceptance of his anti-missile ambitions, which have sharply divided US allies.
Putin and Bush met after the close of a three-day summit of the world’s wealthiest nations and Russia. The leaders issued a communique that made no mention of missile defence, though it was discussed.
The US has about 7,000 strategic nuclear weapons. Under the START II agreement with Russia, that number will fall to between 3,000 and 3,500. In 1997, President Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin agreed in principle that a START III treaty should cut numbers to 2,000 to 2,500.
Bush and his national security aides have described as their goal a US-Russian understanding or agreement that keeps both countries on a path toward smaller offensive nuclear arsenals while allowing the testing and deployment of robust missile defences.
The key, in Bush’s view, is reaching a quick deal without lengthy negotiations.
The President has the ability to extend the life of the ABM treaty while negotiations proceed, if needed, US officials said.
