    [Senate Treaty Document 111-5]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

    111th Congress
    2d Session                      SENATE                     Treaty Doc.
    111-5
    _______________________________________________________________________

    TREATY WITH RUSSIA ON MEASURES FOR FURTHER REDUCTION AND LIMITATION OF
                            STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE ARMS

                                   ----------

                                    MESSAGE

                                      from

                      THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                                  transmitting

    TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
       ON MEASURES FOR THE FURTHER REDUCTION AND LIMITATION OF STRATEGIC
        OFFENSIVE ARMS, SIGNED IN PRAGUE ON APRIL 8, 2010, WITH PROTOCOL

     May 13, 2010.--Treaty was read the first time, and together with the
    accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and
                ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

    TREATY WITH RUSSIA ON MEASURES FOR FURTHER REDUCTION AND LIMITATION OF
                            STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE ARMS
    111th Congress
     2d Session                      SENATE                     Treaty Doc.
                                                                      111-5
    _______________________________________________________________________

    TREATY WITH RUSSIA ON MEASURES FOR FURTHER REDUCTION AND LIMITATION OF
                            STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE ARMS

                                   __________

                                    MESSAGE

                                      from

                       THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                                  transmitting

    TREATY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
       ON MEASURES FOR THE FURTHER REDUCTION AND LIMITATION OF STRATEGIC
        OFFENSIVE ARMS, SIGNED IN PRAGUE ON APRIL 8, 2010, WITH PROTOCOL

     May 13, 2010.--Treaty was read the first time, and together with the
    accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and
                ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                                  ----------

                                         The White House, May 13, 2010.
    To the Senate of the United States:
        With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the
    Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty between
    the United States of America and the Russian Federation on
    Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic
    Offensive Arms, signed in Prague on April 8, 2010, with
    Protocol. The Protocol is an integral part of the Treaty and
    contains three Annexes. I also transmit, for the information of
    the Senate, the report of the Department of State and three
    unilateral statements associated with the Treaty. These
    unilateral statements are not legally binding and are not
    integral parts of the Treaty. The Department of State report
    includes a detailed article-by-article analysis of the Treaty,
    as well as an analysis of the unilateral statements.
        The Treaty will enhance the national security of the United
    States. It mandates mutual reductions and limitations on the
    world's two largest nuclear arsenals. The Treaty will promote
    transparency and predictability in the strategic relationship
    between the United States and the Russian Federation and will
    enable each Party to verify that the other Party is complying
    with its obligations through a regime that includes on-site
    inspections, notifications, a comprehensive and continuing
    exchange of data regarding strategic offensive arms, and
    provisions for the use of national technical means of
    verification. The Treaty further includes detailed procedures
    for the conversion or elimination of Treaty-accountable items,
    and provides for the exchange of certain telemetric information
    on selected ballistic missile launches for increased
    transparency.
        Additionally, the Treaty creates a Bilateral Consultative
    Commission that will meet regularly to promote effective
    implementation of the Treaty regime. This Commission will
    provide an important channel for communication between the
    United States and the Russian Federation regarding the Treaty's
    implementation.
        The United States will continue to maintain a strong
    nuclear deterrent under this Treaty, as validated by the
    Department of Defense through rigorous analysis in the Nuclear
    Posture Review. The Treaty preserves our ability to determine
    for ourselves the composition and structure of our strategic
    forces within the Treaty's overall limits, and to modernize
    those forces. The Treaty does not contain any constraints on
    testing, development, or deployment of current or planned U.S.
    missile defense programs or current or planned U.S. long-range
    conventional strike capabilities.
        The Treaty, upon its entry into force, will supersede the
    Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian
    Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions, signed in Moscow
    on May 24, 2002.
        I urge the Senate to give early and favorable consideration
    to the Treaty, including its Protocol, and to give its advice
    and consent to ratification.
                                                          Barack Obama.
                              LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

                                  ----------

                                           Department of State,
                                               Washington, May 6, 2010.
    The President,
    The White House.
        The President: I have the honor to submit to you the Treaty
    between the United States of America and the Russian Federation
    on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of
    Strategic Offensive Arms, signed at Prague on April 8, 2010,
    with Protocol. The Protocol is an integral part of the Treaty
    and contains three Annexes. Also enclosed, for the information
    of the Senate, are unilateral statements associated with the
    Treaty. These unilateral statements are not legally binding and
    are not integral parts of the Treaty.
        The purpose of this Treaty is to require mutual reductions
    and limitations on U.S. and Russian strategic offensive arms.
    If ratified and implemented by the United States and the
    Russian Federation, it will promote transparency and
    predictability in the strategic relationship between the United
    States and Russia and will result in significantly lower limits
    on the two countries' deployed strategic delivery vehicles and
    their associated warheads, while preserving our ability to
    maintain the strong nuclear deterrent that remains an essential
    element of U.S. national security.
        There are several elements of the Treaty to which I would
    draw your attention. The Treaty includes extensive provisions
    to verify that the Parties are complying with their
    obligations, including on-site inspections, notifications, a
    comprehensive and continuing exchange of data, and provisions
    for the use of national technical means. It also includes
    detailed procedures for conversion or elimination of Treaty-
    accountable items, and provides for the exchange of certain
    telemetric information for increased transparency. Finally, the
    Treaty establishes a Bilateral Consultative Commission to
    promote effective implementation of the Treaty regime.
        I also note that the Treaty permits the United States the
    freedom to determine the structure and composition of its
    strategic forces within the Treaty's limits. The Treaty does
    not contain any constraints on testing, development or
    deployment of current or planned U.S. missile defense programs
    or current or planned U.S. long-range conventional strike
    capabilities, nor does it prevent modernization of U.S.
    strategic forces.
        The Treaty, upon its entry into force, will supersede the
    Treaty Between the United States of America and the Russian
    Federation on Strategic Offensive Reductions, signed at Moscow
    on May 24, 2002, and will not require implementing legislation
    in the United States.
        Accompanying this report is a detailed article-by-article
    analysis of the Treaty, including its Protocol and Annexes
    thereto, as well as an analysis of the unilateral statements
    referenced above.
        This Treaty will enhance the national security of the
    United States. I therefore recommend that the Treaty, including
    its Protocol, be submitted to the Senate for its advice and
    consent to ratification at the earliest possible date.
        Respectfully submitted.
                                                Hillary Rodham Clinton.
        Enclosures: As stated.