arms control
Limiting military arsenals
Arms control refers to international agreements limiting the development, production, stockpiling, or deployment of weapons—especially nuclear, chemical, and biological arms.
Treaties establish verification procedures and restrictions: The Cold War produced several landmark arms control agreements.
Arms control differs from disarmament, which seeks elimination rather than regulation of weapons.
Removal of atomic weapons
- demilitarizationRemoval of armed forces
- decommissionWithdraw from operational use
- dismantlingTaking apart systematically
- destructionAct of completely ruining
elimination · reduction · de-escalation · scrapping · disposal · conversion · demobilization · deactivation
Nuclear disarmament agreement
- SALTNuclear arms control negotiations
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- signatoriesThose who signed officially
- protocolsEstablished codes of conduct
compliance · verification · bilateral · multilateral · test ban · enforcement · inspection · amendment
Negotiation between nations
- talksSpeaks with others
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
bargaining · compromise · mediation · deliberation · consultation · agenda · protocol · concessions
Improvement through addition
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- centrifugesSpinning separation devices
- IAEAU.N. atomic oversight body
safeguards · nuclear fuel cycle · dual-use · missile technology · WMD · reactor · isotopes · black market
Formal assessment of condition
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- satellite imageryEarth views from orbit
sensors · detection · transparency · reporting · audits · inventory · seals · cameras
Reciprocal nuclear annihilation threat
- MADMutual annihilation doctrine
- second strikeResponse to initial attack
- nuclear umbrellaAllied atomic defense guarantee
- credibilityQuality inspiring trust
denuclearization
Removal of atomic weapons
- demilitarizationRemoval of armed forces
- decommissionWithdraw from operational use
- dismantlingTaking apart systematically
destruction · elimination · reduction · de-escalation · scrapping · disposal · conversion · demobilization · deactivation · abolition
START
Nuclear disarmament agreement
- SALTNuclear arms control negotiations
- ratificationFormal approval by authority
- signatoriesThose who signed officially
protocols · compliance · verification · bilateral · multilateral · test ban · enforcement · inspection · amendment · convention
diplomacy
Negotiation between nations
- talksSpeaks with others
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
envoy · bargaining · compromise · mediation · deliberation · consultation · agenda · protocol · concessions · impasse
enrichment
Improvement through addition
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- plutoniumActinide, atomic number 94
- centrifugesSpinning separation devices
IAEA · safeguards · nuclear fuel cycle · dual-use · missile technology · WMD · reactor · isotopes · black market
inspection
Formal assessment of condition
- monitoringOngoing observation of something
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- complianceAdhering to requirements
satellite imagery · sensors · detection · transparency · reporting · audits · inventory · seals · cameras
mutually assured destruction
Reciprocal nuclear annihilation threat
- MADMutual annihilation doctrine
- second strikeResponse to initial attack
- nuclear umbrellaAllied atomic defense guarantee
credibility · escalation · brinkmanship · tripwire · counterforce
- foreign policydiplomacy, diplomatic negotiations, sanctions, containment, deterrence
- security lawnational security, counterterrorism, classified information, security clearance, state secrets
- peacepeace, peaceful, peacefully, peace sign, peace symbol
- global cooperationUnited Nations, multilateralism, coalitions, peace treaty, peace treaties
- peacemakingnegotiation, mediation, peace agreement, mediate, pacifying
- Foreign Affairsforeign affairs, foreign relations, diplomatic relations, embassies, ambassadors
arms controlarms race
Escalating weapons accumulation between nations
nuclear proliferation · military buildup · rearmament · militarization · armament
arms controlbrinkmanship
Pushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
gunboat diplomacy · militarism · hawkishness · arms embargo · sanctions
control, arms, disarm, controller, controlled, controlling, controls, unarmed, disarming