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The United States and Russia retain massive
nuclear arsenals. In addition, the United States believes that Russia
retains elements of its offensive biological
weapons (BW) program. How much of this program is intact is unknown. Russia
has declared its possession of massive stocks of chemical
weapons (CW), which it is committed to destroy under the Chemical
Weapons Convention (CWC).
The major risks of WMD use are:
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(1) unauthorized or inadvertent launch of Russian
nuclear missiles;
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(2) instability in a future U.S.-Russian crisis,
if relations become hostile; and
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(3) the possibility that Russian WMD, materials,
or expertise might be transferred to rogue
states or terrorist organizations that might use such weapons against
the United States or its allies in the future.
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Further Reading:
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NRDC, "U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2001" |
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NRDC, "Russian Nuclear Forces, 2001" |
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Arms Control Association, "U.S. and Russian/Soviet Strategic Nuclear Forces" |
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U.S. Dept. of Defense, Proliferation Threat and Response (page 65 on the screen) |
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Jonathan B. Tucker, "Russia's New Plan for Chemical Weapons Destruction" |
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WMD 411 Bibliography, Strategic
Forces, United States, Russia |
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