Young Deep Cuts Policy Brief #1. Focusing the Message: Immediate Priorities for US-Russian Arms Control

Abstract
As arms control discussions commence in the US-Russia Strategic Stability Dialogue, Russia and United States should consider whether a single new arms control arrangement would be desirable, or rather if a framework of interrelated arrangements would be more conducive to success in future negotiations.
In addition to strategic offensive arms, three interrelated issue areas, distinct from one another but connected by technical and political considerations, should be considered as priorities: long-range precision-guided weapons, missile defense systems, and non-strategic nuclear weapons.
This paper contains an analysis of each of these three areas, including how they undermine strategic stability and present challenges to future negotiations, as well as recommendations for mitigating associated risks.
About the Authors
Artem Kvartalnov is an M.A. candidate at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Previously, Artem was an intern at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Artem’s research focuses on arms control, U.S.-Russia relations, and status-related issues in international politics.

Noah Mayhew is a Research Associate at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, focusing on IAEA safeguards, arms control, and US–Russia relations. Before joining the VCDNP, Noah was an intern at the IAEA.

Daria Selezneva is a Research Associate at the Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations. In January-July 2018, Daria was an intern at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs.
