The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) was signed in Moscow by U.S. President George H.W. Bush and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev on July 31, 1991. This agreement marked a significant milestone in nuclear arms control, as it was the first treaty to reduce the actual number of strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems held by the two superpowers, representing a thawing in Cold War relations. The treaty called for the reduction of strategic nuclear warheads to between 6,000 and 8,000 over a period of seven years, alongside a verification regime to ensure compliance.

The groundwork for START I was laid during the late 1980s, a period characterized by diminishing hostilities between the U.S. and the USSR, following years of intense rivalry. Ongoing arms talks and changing perceptions of security led to the realization that reducing the nuclear arsenals could enhance global security. The treaty was formally implemented starting in December 1994 after the required ratifications were completed. It represented not only a tactical military shift but also a symbolic end to the decades-long arms race between the two nations.

The implications of START I extended beyond the immediate reductions in weaponry; it laid the foundation for subsequent arms reduction agreements and fostered a spirit of cooperation that facilitated the end of the Cold War. The treaty also set a precedent for future nuclear negotiations and highlighted the importance of verification measures, which became a cornerstone of subsequent treaties. The USA and Russia revised their stances on nuclear policy, making strategic arms control a priority on their respective agendas.