Number: RL31222
Title: Arms Control and Strategic Nuclear Weapons: Unilateral vs. Bilateral Reductions
Authors: Amy Woolf, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division 
Abstract: The exchange between Presidents Bush and Putin during their recent Washington summit highlighted an ongoing debate - within the Administration, among analysts, and between the United States and Russia - about the relative strengths and weaknesses of unilateral reductions and bilateral arms control agreements. Officials in the Bush Administration have questioned the value of formal arms control agreements. Following a general discussion of these views, this report examines strengths and weaknesses often attributed to these two forms of arms control It concludes with a review of the Bush Administration's proposals to identify how they incorporate some strengths and accept some weaknesses of unilateral arms reductions.
Pages: 29
Date: Updated May 16, 2002