Wyo senators urge President Trump to consider key factors in review of U.S.-Russian nuclear treaty

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., signed a letter led by U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., to President Trump urging him to consider the key factors that underpin the continued viability of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).

Those factors include a sustained and vigorous U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program, strict compliance by Russia with its arms control obligations and a true balance of nuclear capabilities between the parties to the treaty, according to the senators.

“We remain committed to funding the necessary resources for the U.S. nuclear weapons modernization program and we support the rigorous review of continued viability of the New START the Administration is undertaking. We know you agree that arms control is not an end to itself; it is but a single tool that may be used to advance U.S. national security when carefully considered,” the senators wrote. 

F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne is home to the 90th Missile Wing, which is scheduled to receive new modernized strategic nuclear missiles to replace the older Minuteman III missiles as a result of U.S. nuclear modernization.

The letter is also cosigned by 22 other U.S. senators, including Roy Blunt, R-Mo., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah., John Hoeven, R-N.D., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., John Kennedy, R-La., James Lankford, R-Okla., Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Roger Wicker, R-Miss.