Russian–American Nuclear Nonproliferation Dialogue: Lessons Learned and Road Ahead

394 Pages·2022·2.885 MB·English

by  Vladimir A. Orlov, Sergey D. Semenov

Russian–American Nuclear Nonproliferation
Dialogue
“PIR Center’s collective monograph is an example of a deep, thoughtful study of
the evolution of cooperation between Russia and the United States in this area.
I am confident that this work will make a worthy contribution to the devel-
opment of Russian approaches to combatting modern challenges and threats to
nonproliferation.”
—Anatoly Antonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Russian Federation to the United States of America
“We regard the monograph as an invitation to continue a substantive conversation
on the entire set of nonproliferation problems. It is not only Moscow and Washington,
but also other members of the international community that are interested in solving
these problems. This multi-page work reflects the growing concern on both sides of
the ocean, including in Russia, vis-à-vis the current state of the international
legal architecture in the field of nonproliferation and the prospects for multilateral
cooperation in this sensitive area.”
—Sergey Ryabkov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
“I am so happy to see this volume devoted to Roland Timerbaev, one of the most
eminent Russian diplomats of the 20th century. It is a fitting tribute, drawing
as it does on the talents both of young researchers and of highly experienced senior
negotiators. This combination of fresh perception and established wisdom makes this
volume an important tool for analysts and practitioners of nonproliferation policy.”
—Rose Gottemoeller, Former Undersecretary of State for International Security
“The authors managed to delve into the details of the interaction between Moscow
and Washington in a surprisingly dynamic and easy-to-grasp way, and at the same
time rise above the specifics of the topic and draw conclusions that will be relevant
for other areas requiring joint work of the two countries.”
—Elena Chernenko, Special Correspondent, Kommersant
“Not only does the book have all the chances – it should! – become a livre de poche
for diplomats and military people involved in preparing and making decisions on
arms control and nonproliferation. Not only because the authors went through the
five-decades-long history of our interaction with the United States, but because the
authors distill the lessons to be learned from this history.”
—Anatoly Torkunov, Rector, MGIMO-University
“A thoughtful, unbiased reader will find good food for thought in this book.”
—Evgeny Maslin, Head, 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense
(1992–1997)
·
Vladimir A. Orlov Sergey D. Semenov
Editors
Russian–American
Nuclear
Nonproliferation
Dialogue
Lessons Learned and Road Ahead
Editors
Vladimir A. Orlov Sergey D. Semenov
MGIMO-University, PIR Center PIR Center
Moscow, Russia Moscow, Russia
ISBN 978-981-19-1715-8 ISBN 978-981-19-1716-5 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-1716-5
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer
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189721, Singapore
In memoriam of Amb. Roland Timerbaev (1927–2019) and all
Russian and American diplomats,
who spent their careers to avert the dangers
of nuclear proliferation and arms race
Foreword by William Potter
One does not often think of the Cold War as a period of superpower
cooperation, but it was, at least in the sphere of nuclear nonprolifer-
ation. Regrettably, those habits of cooperation between Moscow and
Washington are now a distant memory, and it is proving increasingly
difficult today for both counties to recognize any issues in which their
interests coincide. Even such fundamental tenets of diplomacy as respect
and trust—much less empathy—are noticeable mainly by their absence. It
is all the more important, therefore, to understand why ideological and
military rivals were able to join forces in the past to negotiate a rules-
based regime to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and to cooperate
in its implementation.
This volume of original essays goes a long way in illuminating the
history of prior nuclear cooperation (and competition) in a number of key
issue areas, including regional security, the NPT review process, nuclear
sharing, the peaceful use of nuclear energy, nuclear security, and nuclear
arms control and disarmament. It is especially valuable in highlighting the
role played by both individuals and institutional actors, the importance of
personal relationships in the negotiating process, and the multiplicity of
fora in which nonproliferation consultations and cooperation transpired.
It also demonstrates the coming of age of “the next generation of
nonproliferation specialists”—a pedagogical mission that has been central
to the work of the PIR Center and the James Martin Center for Nonpro-
liferation Studies since the founding of the two institutions over a quarter
vii
viii FOREWORDBYWILLIAMPOTTER
of a century ago. It was an objective that Ambassador Roland Timerbaev
and I embraced even earlier, in the dimming lights of the Soviet Union,
when we set out jointly to recruit and nurture a new cadre of nonprolifer-
ation experts and rebuild the institutional memory about nonproliferation
cooperation in our respective countries. I know that Roland Mikhailovich
would have been very proud of the collection of essays by young Russian
scholars and practitioners that the PIR Center has assembled in this
volume. They are a testament to the possibilities for cooperative action
between the leading nuclear powers when their interests objectively coin-
cide. It is a lesson that contemporary policymakers would be wise to
observe.
William Potter
Director, James Martin Center for
Nonproliferation Studies
Monterey, USA
Foreign Member of the Russian
Academy of Sciences
Moscow, Russia
Foreword by Anatoly Torkunov
I had the chance to work in the United States in the 1980s, when I was
the first secretary at the USSR Embassy in the United States. It was a
difficult period, no less difficult than now: a Soviet missile took down
a South Korean airliner, Reagan called us “an evil empire,” spy hysteria
was gaining momentum. Meeting with me, old acquaintances of mine,
scholars, assistants to congressmen used to leave their doors open so that
their secretaries could see and hear what we were talking about.
But even at that juncture, as the authors of the monograph show,
Moscow and Washington could engage each other substantively and
professionally on the issues where our interests were convergent. Our
interest to preclude the proliferation of nuclear weapons fully overlapped.
Those contacts might have not been conducive to immediate break-
throughs, but they laid the grounds for fragile mutual confidence and
respect for each other’s professionalism.
Given that, the more discouraging it is to see what is currently
happening in Russian–U.S. relations. It is disheartening that instead of
discussing the pressing issues of international agenda, we have to spend
time sorting out dirty tricks: denegation of visas, limitation of contacts.
In this context, the more valuable are PIR Center’s efforts to reduce
the differences, build the bridges—initially, in Track II discussions. In a
situation where bilateral contacts are reduced to a minimum, every expert
performs an important diplomatic role. As a result, PIR Center’s brain-
child—a format involving officials, experts, and junior specialists. Scholars
ix
x FOREWORDBYANATOLYTORKUNOV
look for solutions to bilateral issues, engaging officials in a dialogue—at
first, for them to comment on disparate ideas, explain their practicality or
the lack thereof. Then, to take note of something interesting, innovative,
and develop the idea. This is how comment by comment an under-
standing of each other’s stances emerges, mutual respect is established
(or, rather. is restored). And I take particular inspiration in the fact that
young specialists—evidently, with no deductions for age—get accustomed
to this pattern of conversation.
The monograph Russian-American Nuclear Nonproliferation
Dialogue: Lessons Learned and Road Ahead culminated in five years
of such dialogue. I find particular pleasure in the fact that among
the authors of the book there are not only white-haired experts, but
also young specialists, many of whom are alumni of the dual-degree
M.A. program, which is jointly implemented by MGIMO-University,
PIR Center, and the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at
Monterey. That said, the chapters penned by younger authors are far
from beginner’s level, being deep, thoughtful, and professional. And, I
dare believe, not burdened with the disappointments of the last decade
of Russia–U.S. relations
Not only does the book have all the chances—it should!—become a
livredepochef or diplomats and military people involved in preparing and
making decisions on arms control and nonproliferation. Not only because
the authors went through the five-decades-long history of our interaction
with the United States, but because the authors distill the lessons to be
learned from this history. I share the editors’ message that the previous
patterns of cooperation were the children of their time and the attempts
to mechanically restore them are doomed to failure. But the history of
the bilateral dialogue is a manual on applying Russian–U.S. dialogue to