WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama on Wednesday will push a key foreign policy goal closer to completion when he signs documents for the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to “reset” ties with Russia.
The agreement limits each country to 1,550 strategic warheads, down from 2,200. It also re-establishes a monitoring system that ended in December 2009 with the expiration of an earlier arms deal.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed the papers last week after the treaty cleared parliament. The U.S. Senate approved the pact in late December after Mr. Obama lobbied hard for passage.
Ratification becomes final when both sides exchange the signed papers.
Mr. Obama is scheduled to sign the documents in the Oval Office in the presence of news photographers only.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.