President Barack Obama said Wednesday during a major foreign policy speech in Berlin that he’s calling on the United States and Russia to reduce their nuclear weapons by up to one-third in an effort to “move beyond Cold War nuclear postures.”
Speaking at the Brandenburg Gate, Obama said that, thanks to the 2010 START Treaty, America and Russia are poised to reduce their warheads to their lowest levels since the 1950s. But the President said the two countries can go further.
“But we have more work to do so today I’m announcing additional steps forward,” Obama said. “After a comprehensive review, I’ve determined that we can ensure the security of america and our allies and maintain a strong and credible strategic deterrent while reducing our deployed strategic nuclear weapons by up to one third. And I intend to seek negotiated cuts with Russia to move beyond Cold War nuclear postures.”
Obama said America will host a summit in 2016 to discuss efforts to secure nuclear materials and he will seek U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
