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The New Start Treaty was formally activated on Saturday February 5 as the two sides, USA and Russia, exchanged the relevant documents. The new Start Treaty limits the number of deployed strategic warheads to 1,550, and the number of launchers and heavy bombers to 800. According to treaty, the United States and Russia, within 45 days, must share details on the number, location and technical characteristics of their arsenals. Sixty days from now, the inspectors will be permitted to investigate the nuclear sites of both the country.
This could be possible after an intense lobbying campaign President Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when it was passed before Christmas. The Duma, the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament had also voted to approve the treaty a month later.1
On Egyptian uprising, reports noted that the United States has applauded the negotiations in Egypt. John Kerry, head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the talks 'extraordinary'. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday reinforced the views of the Obama administration on political reform in the West Asia and rejected comments by a U.S. envoy that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak should remain in power.2
Meanwhile, reports noted that a meeting of the quartet comprising of - United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations was held. The principle objective of this meeting was to reaffirm support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, even amid the turmoil in Egypt and the Arab world. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton deflected a question about how the turmoil in Egypt and other Arab countries would affect Israel or the peace process. To be cautious and play it safe Clinton sided with Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish foreign minister, who said: “It is better not to talk about Israel-Palestine now. It is better to separate these issues.”3 These developments hint towards a cautious America which is closely following the events in West Asia.