The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT), also known as the Moscow Treaty, was a bilateral agreement between the United States and the Russian Federation aimed at reducing and limiting strategic nuclear warheads. Signed on May 24, 2002, and entering into force on June 1, 2003, the treaty committed both nations to decrease their deployed strategic nuclear warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200 by December 31, 2012. SORT remained in effect until it was superseded by the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) on February 5, 2011.
Key Provisions
- Warhead Reductions: Each party agreed to reduce and limit their strategic nuclear warheads to the specified range by the end of 2012. Unlike previous treaties, SORT allowed each nation to determine the composition and structure of its strategic offensive arms independently.
- Verification and Compliance: SORT did not include specific verification measures. However, both parties agreed to utilize the verification provisions of the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) to ensure transparency and predictability. Additionally, a Bilateral Implementation Commission was established to meet at least twice a year to discuss treaty implementation.
- Withdrawal Clause: Either party could withdraw from the treaty upon three months’ written notice, allowing flexibility in response to changing international security environments.
Background and Significance
In the early 2000s, both the United States and Russia recognized the need to move beyond Cold War-era nuclear postures. President George W. Bush advocated for unilateral reductions to maintain flexibility, while President Vladimir Putin preferred a legally binding framework to ensure parity and predictability. The resulting compromise was SORT, a treaty that emphasized significant reductions in deployed strategic nuclear warheads while granting each nation autonomy over its nuclear forces’ structure.
Critiques and Limitations
While SORT represented a step forward in nuclear arms reduction, it faced criticism for several reasons:
- Lack of Detailed Verification Measures: The absence of specific verification protocols led to concerns about the ability to monitor compliance effectively.
- Non-Permanent Reductions: The treaty did not mandate the destruction of decommissioned warheads; instead, warheads could be stored and potentially redeployed, raising questions about the permanence of the reductions.
- Simultaneous Expiration of Limits and Treaty: The fact that the warhead limits and the treaty itself were set to expire on the same day diminished the long-term impact of the reductions.
Transition to New START
Recognizing the need for a more comprehensive and verifiable arms reduction framework, the United States and Russia negotiated the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Signed on April 8, 2010, and entering into force on February 5, 2011, New START replaced SORT and introduced more rigorous verification measures, further reducing the deployed strategic nuclear arsenals of both nations.
