[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992, Book I)]
[June 17, 1992]
[Pages 961-962]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Understanding on Reductions in Strategic Offensive Arms

June 17, 1992
    The President of the United States of America and the President of 
the Russian Federation have agreed to substantial further reductions in 
strategic offensive arms. Specifically, the two sides have agreed upon 
and will promptly conclude a Treaty with the following provisions:
    1. Within the seven-year period following entry into force of the 
START Treaty, they will reduce their strategic forces to no more than:
    (a) an overall total number of warheads for each between 3800 and 
4250 (as each nation shall determine) or such lower number as each 
nation shall decide.
    (b) 1200 MIRVed ICBM warheads.
    (c) 650 heavy ICBM warheads.
    (d) 2160 SLBM warheads.
    2. By the year 2003 (or by the end of the year 2000 if the United 
States can contribute to the financing of the destruction or elimination 
of strategic offensive arms in Russia), they will:
    (a) reduce the overall total to no more than a number of warheads 
for each between 3000 and 3500 (as each nation shall determine) or such 
lower number as each nation shall decide.
    (b) eliminate all MIRVed ICBMs.
    (c) reduce SLBM warheads to between no more than 1700 to 1750 (as 
each nation shall determine).
    3. For the purpose of calculating the overall totals described 
above:

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    (a) The number of warheads counted for heavy bombers with nuclear 
roles will be the number of nuclear weapons they are actually equipped 
to carry.
    (b) Under agreed procedures, heavy bombers not to exceed 100 that 
were never equipped for long-range nuclear ALCMs and that are reoriented 
to conventional roles will not count against the overall total 
established by this agreement.
    (i) Such heavy bombers will be based separately from heavy bombers 
        with nuclear roles.
    (ii) No nuclear weapons will be located at bases for heavy bombers 
        with conventional roles.
    (iii) Such aircraft and crews will not train or exercise for nuclear 
        missions.
    (iv) Current inspection procedures already agreed in the START 
        Treaty will help affirm that these bombers have conventional 
        roles. No new verification procedures are required.
    (v) Except as otherwise agreed, these bombers will remain subject to 
        the provisions of the START Treaty, including the inspection 
        provisions.
    4. The reductions required by this agreement will be carried out by 
eliminating missile launchers and heavy bombers using START procedures, 
and, in accordance with the plans of the two sides, by reducing the 
number of warheads on existing ballistic missiles other than the SS-18. 
Except as otherwise agreed, ballistic missile warheads will be 
calculated according to START counting rules.
    5. The two Presidents directed that this agreement be promptly 
recorded in a brief Treaty document which they will sign and submit for 
ratification in their respective countries. Because this new agreement 
is separate from but builds upon the START Treaty, they continue to urge 
that the START Treaty be ratified and implemented as soon as possible.
    DONE at Washington, this seventeenth day of June, 1992, in two 
copies, each in the English and Russian languages, both texts being 
equally authentic.

FOR THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA

                                                             George Bush

FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

                                                           Boris Yeltsin