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Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council

Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Issues

at the Camp David Summit, September 26-27, 2003

Michael Roston, Analyst

October 14, 2003

The Camp David Summit between Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin reflected a genuine attempt by each side to broaden the bases for the US-Russia bilateral relationship.  In addition to a Joint Statement, the presidents considered a full agenda that included cooperation in a number of important areas, including fighting HIV/AIDS, development of commercial energy ties, expanding dialog between American and Russian banks, enhancing financing options for trade, broadening commercial business relations, and increasing foreign direct investments.  President Bush emphasized in his statement to the press, as has long been his administration’s policy, that previous summits had focused on “missiles and warheads, because the only common ground we shared was the desire to avoid catastrophic conflict,” and explained that work on these areas reflected an interest in “building a new relationship.”  Moreover, President Putin explained that this latest summit sought to move the relationship beyond a “declarative” phase, emphasizing that he and Bush had “compiled a checklist of different issues on which we have given instructions to specific agencies in our government. That is why our cooperation is not declarative, but extremely concrete and pragmatic.”

The Joint Statement considered several areas of nonproliferation and arms control policy in US-Russia relations.  The statement articulated, similar to President Putin’s explanation, that specific instructions were being given to “appropriate agencies and specifying timelines” to implement work related to the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, or Treaty of Moscow, with the intention of increasing transparency and building confidence on strategic issues.  President Putin further noted that the Treaty of Moscow’s implementation is “going successfully,” and that he and Bush intended “to take this work under our control in the future.”

Both sides also agreed to increase cooperation between their military establishments, including the area of missile defense.  In this area, President Bush explained that the two militaries needed to cooperate because both Russia and the US are “threatened by outlaw regimes that could be armed with deadly weapons,” although no particular states were identified.

Concerning states of nonproliferation concern, Putin and Bush discussed matters relating to Iran and North Korea.  The Joint Statement referred to these discussions in a cursory fashion, but additional details were announced when the presidents made themselves available to the press.  President Bush referenced a shared insistence that North Korea irreversibly and verifiably end its nuclear program. During his statement, President Putin added that in order to create a constructive dialog around the Korean situation, the nonproliferation regime could best be ensured by “extending to North Korea guarantees in this sphere of security,” an area in which he intended to work with the United States. 

In background briefings from administration officials and White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, the importance of discussions on the Iranian situation was highlighted.  In his statement, President Bush articulated that each side would urge Iran to comply with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.  During his statement, President Putin explained that it was important that a “clear but respectful signal” be sent to Iran that it needed to expand its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Bush added in response to an inquiry from the press that an understanding existed that both sides should work to make Iran abandon any ambitions it might have toward developing nuclear weapons.  He also stated that he was very satisfied with the agreement both sides have that Iran must cooperate more with the IAEA.  Putin then reiterated to the press that Russia does not wish to contribute to the development of nuclear weapons in Iran, and that Russia would comply fully with the NPT. 

While each side brought these matters very much out into the open during the summit, the absence of announcements or statements on a number of nonproliferation issues was notable because of the high priority they were given during the addresses of each president to the United Nations General Assembly during the preceding week.  These issues included:

• Implementation of the Group of Eight’s Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction
• Advancement of the Proliferation Security Initiative
• Forging a new UN resolution or system to combat proliferation
• Averting the outbreak of an arms race in outer space