(Click here for a printable version of this interview) Thomas Countryman is 35-year veteran of the United States Department of State. He was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, with the rank of Minister-Counselor, and most recently served as Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security. He simultaneously served as Assistant […]
Fact Sheet: Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty
Introduction The Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF, or The Treaty Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Elimination of Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles) was signed on December 8, 1987, and entered into force on June 1, 1988. The treaty requires parties to eliminate nuclear and conventional […]
Fact Sheet: The Treaty on Open Skies
Introduction The Treaty on Open Skies allows for states party to the treaty to conduct unarmed observation flights over the territory of other states to foster inter-military transparency and cooperation. The United States, Canada, and 22 European countries including Russia signed the treaty in Helsinki on March 24, 1992. The United States Senate ratified the […]
Fact Sheet: Understanding the New START Agreement
Background The United States and Russia signed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) on April 8, 2010. The United States ratified the treaty on December 22, 2011. Previous Treaties: Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START, 1991), Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT, or Moscow Treaty, 2002). New START intended as a placeholder treaty that would […]
Summary of Senate Version of Fiscal 2016 National Defense Authorization Bill
On May 12, the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a $602 billion authorization bill by a vote of 23-3. The three Senators who voted no were reported as Deb Fischer (R-NB), Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT). Cruz said he voted no because of the provision requiring women to register for the draft. Lee […]
