Weapons designed for use on the battlefield – an area in which Russia maintains a sizable numerical superiority – are not part of New START. Even so, America’s European allies almost uniformly support New START – and part of their reasoning is that positive conclusion of one type of weapons reduction can’t help but favor another.
Whether that reasoning stands the test of time remains to be seen. Russia has jealously guarded its tactical weapons superiority as its former Central and Eastern European allies have peeled off and sided with or joined NATO.
