VIENNA — The United States has agreed to notify other nations before it launches most ballistic missile tests or satellites, in a measure that builds on a landmark arms agreement with Russia and is meant to encourage Moscow to reciprocate.
The American decision was contained in a confidential note made available late last week to The Associated Press and confirmed by three diplomats familiar with the issue.
The move is less far-reaching — or binding — than the New START treaty signed last month by the U.S. and Russian presidents that outlines cuts in both nations' massive nuclear arsenals. But it is significant in reflecting Washington's determination to build on the success of that agreement.
For years, Russia voluntarily provided such pre-notifications regarding the launch of ballistic missile tests or satellites. But it stopped doing that two years ago, complaining that the United States and other nations were not following suit.
One senior diplomat familiar with the issue said Moscow is now expected to resume its reporting. That would add to the confidence building that received a huge push with last month's signing of the nuclear arms agreement.
"The United States … will provide pre-launch notification of commercial and National Aeronautics and Space Administration space launches as well as the majority of intercontinental ballistic and submarine-launched ballistic missile launches," said the note forwarded to HCOC, an organization overseeing efforts to curb the spread of such weapons.
The wording indicated that not all missile tests would be subject to pre-notification, but it was not clear from the note what would be exempt.
The U.S. decision was conveyed to the other 129 HCOC member states on May 7, judging from the date on a cover letter accompanying the American note and signed by Austria's Foreign Ministry, which administers the Vienna-based Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation.
The U.S. initiative comes as Washington presses the U.S. Senate to ratify the New START pact signed April 9 in Prague with Russia, arguing that the passage is vital to U.S. efforts to persuade other countries not to build atomic weapons.