DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
14
types of nuclear weapons, strategic and non-strategic, as well as deployed and
non-deployed.
The NATO-Russia Council meeting in January addressed possible
modalities for shared missile defence systems. However, the parties could
reportedly not agree on whether to develop two separate systems, as preferred
by NATO, or one integrated system, as preferred by the Russian Federation.
At its meeting in July, the NATO-Russia Council was said to have been able
to clarify some outstanding issues, though the parties were unable to reach
agreement on the major points.
On 23 November, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a
statement24 on missile defence in which he expressed regret at the lack of
cooperation. In response to the ongoing plans to deploy a BMD in Europe,
President Medvedev announced the decision to, inter alia, “deploy modern
offensive weapon systems in the west and south of the country”, including
the deployment of Iskander missiles in the region of Kaliningrad. At the
NATO-Russia Council meeting in December, members of NATO expressed
regret over the decisions taken by the Russian Federation and affirmed their
interest in continuing to seek cooperation.
Modernization of nuclear forces and related infrastructure
In his message25 to the Senate on 2 February, President Obama stated
that he intended “to modernize or replace the triad of strategic nuclear
delivery systems: a heavy bomber and air-launched cruise missile, an ICBM
[intercontinental ballistic missile] and a nuclear-powered ballistic missile
submarine (SSBN) and submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM); and
maintain the United States rocket motor industrial base”. He further stated
his intent to accelerate the design and engineering phase for the construction
of two multi-billion-dollar nuclear facilities, 26 necessary for the resumed
production of new nuclear weapons, and committed to request multi-year
funding for these facilities. In early 2011, the United States Navy and
Air Force reportedly indicated that preparations were under way for the
development of a new generation of SSBNs and “a new long-range, nuclearcapable
penetrating bomber”. Further reports stated that the Air Force had
begun studying design options for a potential successor to the Minuteman III
ICBM, to “shape the plan and resource strategy to recapitalize [the] ICBM
force beyond 2030”.
24 President of the Russian Federation, “Statement in connection with the situation concerning
the NATO countries’ missile defence system in Europe”, 23 November 2011. Available
from http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts/3115 (accessed 21 May 2012).
25 The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, “Message from the President on the New
START Treaty”, 2 February 2011. Available from http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2011/02/02/message-president-new-start-treaty-0
(accessed 21 May 2012).
26 Chemical and Metallurgy Research Replacement at Los Alamos and the Uranium
Processing Facility at the Y-12 plant in Tennessee.