From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Transcript for: Nuclear Arms Control

Description: New START, a treaty that limits U.S. and Russian nuclear
forces, will expire in 2026. The U.S. has identified goals for a
successor treaty that include addressing all types of nuclear weapons.
The measures for verifying compliance with a New START successor are
likely to be similar to those employed for New START, including
exchanges of data about deployed strategic delivery vehicles,
inspections at relevant bases, and use of satellites. Future treaties
could include more extensive nuclear weapons limits. Verifying such
treaties may require more advanced technologies-such as devices to
measure weapons' radiation signatures-which the U.S. is researching and
developing. 

Related GAO Works: GAO-23-105698. Nuclear Arms Control: U.S. May Face
Challenges in Verifying Future Treaty Goals

Released: September 2023

[ GAO's Allison Bawden, Director, National Resources and Environment,
speaking ]

[ Allison Bawden: ]

  The current U.S.-Russian arms control treaty limiting long range
nuclear weapons deployed on missiles and bombers expires in 2026.
Prospects for negotiating a new treaty with Russia do not currently look
promising. Nevertheless, the U.S. has identified goals for a successor
treaty that include addressing all types of U.S. and Russian nuclear
weapons. These would include nuclear weapons in storage and shorter
range weapons.
  
  While the U.S. goals would limit a broader range of weapons, officials
largely expect to use current methods to verify that each country
complies, such as on-site inspections and satellite imagery. And
officials also expect to use the same proven technologies to verify the
number of nuclear weapons at a site during inspections. 
  
  Beyond the next treaty, future treaties could include more extensive
nuclear weapon limits. Verifying such treaties may require more advanced
technologies, such as devices to measure weapons' radiation signatures -
which the U.S. is researching and developing. 
  
  To find out more, visit GAO.gov.
  
[ End ]
 
For more info, check out our report GAO-23-105698 at: GAO.gov