PIR Center experts Vladimir Orlov and Sergey Semenov discuss the prospects for the Russian-American dialogue on arms control.

The debate on strategic stability and its prospects has been gaining momentum within the Russian academic and expert communities for the last couple of years, which is not surprising given the fact that the whole of the international security architecture is under extensive pressure. Traditional arms control treaties previously regarded as a critical instrument of ensuring strategic stability are on the verge of collapse. The system is under double blow. First, rapid technological progress blurs the distinction line between nuclear and conventional weapons, thus increasing the risk of escalation. Secondly, the global security landscape is becoming increasingly multilateral, thus making the traditional bilateral track less relevant – at least, for the United States.

I do not accept the argument that that the transition period in Washington is taking longer than usual, and the real game will start soon. Nor do I think that just separating the nuclear nonproliferation agenda issues from the broader context of security agenda could help. This will just mislead all of us, whether the Korean Peninsula or the Middle East, or even the US-Russian relations are concerned because – I will repeat it again – the US-Russian nonproliferation and arms control relations are more than ever part of a more complex strategic relationship between the two countries.

Evgeny Buzhinskiy has listed three priority aspects of the strategic cooperation between Russia and the United States in an article for European Leadership Network. "First, we should aim to work together against international terrorism, first of all against Islamic State. Second, we should restart our strategic stability dialogue. Third, Russia and the United States should do their utmost to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons."

Chronologically the most recent destruction of WMD took place in Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine. But that was taking place soon after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Thank God, this was carried out in peaceful conditions and with international support.