The US Senate's ratification of the new nuclear arms pact with Russia on Wednesday makes the world safer and sends a strong signal the United States is committed to reducing atomic weapons, US President Barack Obama said, dpa reported.
"This is the most significant arms control agreement in nearly two decades," Obama said at a press conference shortly after the 71-26 Senate vote to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START.
New START's ratification was a top priority for Obama, and he had urged the Senate to complete the accord before the end of the year. Obama views it as the cornerstone of his policy to "reset" relations with Moscow. The treaty still requires his signature.
The pact calls on the United States and Russia to cut the deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 within seven years and replaces its 1991 predecessor that expired a year ago.
New START allows the United States and Russia to resume nuclear inspections that were suspended in December 2009.
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