BMD Development and the ABM Treaty

U.S. President George W. Bush has accelerated work on defenses against shorter-range missiles, as well as defensive systems that can protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). He wants to integrate all of these systems to create a multi-layered defensive system.

Many of these activities would have violated the ABM Treaty. The desire to pursue such activities led the United States to officially withdraw from the ABM Treaty on June 13, 2002. Examples of early activities that could have violated the ABM Treaty are: 

• construction of early warning radars that would support a national missile defense (NMD) system;
• testing of sea-based systems intended to intercept ICBMs;
• "emergency" deployment of operational interceptors to a test range in Alaska; and
• testing of airborne lasers intended to intercept ICBMs.

Further Reading:

	Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, "Prepared Testimony on Ballistic Missile Defense to the Senate Armed Services Committee"
	Peter Baker, "Russia Signals Compromise Possible on ABM Treaty: U.S. Says It Will Withdraw Unilaterally If No Agreement Is Reached"
	Arms Control Association, "The Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty"
	Federation of American Scientists, "Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty"

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