A F RAMEWORK FOR NUCLEAR DI SARMAMENT

Earlier this year, a new strategic arms treaty entered into force in the United States and Russia, continuing a process of symmetric arms reductions in the two states. Further progress might be anticipated if the two can agree on how to address the asymmetries in tactical nuclear weapons, and how and when to engage other nuclear-armed states in the process. In this paper I describe a framework intended to engage all nuclear-armed states, comprising a three-tiered approach involving steps appropriate to each, steps involving theatre-centric threat reduction measures, and a multilateral tier aimed at encouragement, transparency and base-lining as progress comes about. I present a perception of the drivers for disarmament and contrast the international disarmament regime with the nonproliferation regime, and a possible course of action that might stimulate future progress.