Background: The Russian CW Stockpile

Russia currently possesses the world largest chemical weapons (CW) stockpile - 44,000 tons of Soviet era mustard gas, Lewisite, sarin, V-gas, and other chemicals that affect the nervous and circulatory systems.

From a security viewpoint, the possible proliferation of chemical weapons technology to rogue states and terrorists groups is a real international security threat. Recent events, such as the 1995 release of sarin gas in the Tokyo subway by the Aum cult and the more recent UNSCOM investigations into chemical weapons stockpiles in Iraq indicate that the threat of CW being used in both intra- and international conflicts is all too real.

The only way to ensure that such weapons do not fall into the wrong hands is to guarantee the demilitarization and destruction of theRussian CW stockpile. In November 1997, the Russian Federation ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), thereby committing Russia to the eventual destruction of their entire CW stockpile.However, the near-bankrupt Russian economy cannot afford to fund their CW destruction program (the cost of which is estimated at over $5 billion) without a massive influx of foreign, particularly U.S. funding. If the U.S. ceases tocontribute to the Russian CW destruction program, the Russians will be forced to withdraw from the CWC, as Yeltsin's government has neither the funds nor the support in the Duma to continue the program in the absence of foreign aid.

U.S. Involvement in Russian CW Destruction

Over the past four years, the United States has been the largest donor to the Russian CW destruction program.. In 1996, the U.S. delivered three mobile CW destruction analytical laboratories to Russia, one of which is currently up and running. The U.S. is helping fund the renovation of a CW Destruction Analytical Laboratory in Saratov, near Moscow. Last October, U.S. and Russian representatives selected the town of Shchuch'ye, in Siberia as the site for a future U.S.-Russian CW destruction facility capable of destroying the Soviet stockpile of sarin nerve gas. U.S. efforts to facilitate Russian CW destruction are funded through the Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program, administered by DoD.

Current Budget Status

DoD's FY'00 budget request for the Cooperative Threat Reduction program totaled $475.5 million of which $130.4 million was earmarked for security enhancements at CW storage sites in Russia and construction of the CW destruction site in Shchuch'ye. The Senate Defense Authorization Bill and the Senate Defense Appropriations Bill authorized and notified the full Administration request, including the full $130.4 million for the CW program. The House Defense Authorization Bill, however, only authorized $444.1 million for CTR programs and only $24.6 million for the CW program. The $24.6 million would fund security enhancements at the storage sites, but according to Sec. 1305, no funds "may be obligated or expended for planning, design, or construction of a chemical weapons destruction facility in Russia."

Recommendations

It is in U.S. interests to aid the Russians in funding their CW destruction program. Such funding is not foreign aid to Russia, but an investment in the international fight against chemical weapons proliferation. The U.S. should continue to support the construction of a CW destruction facility in Shchuch'ye. The U.S. has already invested $194 million towards construction of the facility. Having come this far, it would be imprudent to withdraw further support from the project.