Nuclear arms control under trump and putin: End of the road?

Deterioration of US-Russian political relations, especially since Russia’s annexation of Crimea and destabilization of eastern Ukraine, leaves the future of US-Russian strategic nuclear arms control in a state of uncertainty. The Obama administration aspired to conclude further arms reductions agreements with Russia before the end of President Obama’s second term, but this aspiration remained unfulfilled as Obama departed the White House. Going forward, the Trump administration must balance requirements for nuclear modernization with equally important needs for nuclear arms control and nonproliferation. This study considers possible options for a Trump administration in this context, together with a discussion of attendant uncertainties and risks.