For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 13, 2002
Statement by the President
Six months ago, I announced that the United States was withdrawing
from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, and today that
withdrawal formally takes effect. With the Treaty now behind us, our
task is to develop and deploy effective defenses against limited
missile attacks. As the events of September 11 made clear, we no
longer live in the Cold War world for which the ABM Treaty was
designed. We now face new threats from terrorists who seek to destroy
our civilization by any means available to rogue states armed with
weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. Defending the
American people against these threats is my highest priority as
Commander-in-Chief.
The new strategic challenges of the 21st century require us to
think differently. But they also require us to act. I call on the
Congress to approve the full amount of the funding I have requested in
my budget for missile defense. This will permit the United States to
work closely with all nations committed to freedom to pursue the
policies and capabilities needed to make the world a safer place for
generations to come.
I am committed to deploying a missile defense system as soon as
possible to protect the American people and our deployed forces against
the growing missile threats we face. Because these threats also
endanger our allies and friends around the world, it is essential that
we work together to defend against them, an important task which the
ABM Treaty prohibited. The United States will deepen our dialogue and
cooperation with other nations on missile defenses.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin and I agreed that Russia and
the United States would look for ways to cooperate on missile defenses,
including expanding military exercises, sharing early-warning data, and
exploring potential joint research and development of missile defense
technologies. Over the past year, our countries have worked hard to
overcome the legacy of the Cold War and to dismantle its structures.
The United States and Russia are building a new relationship based on
common interests and, increasingly, common values. Under the Treaty of
Moscow, the nuclear arsenals of our nations will be reduced to their
lowest levels in decades. Cooperation on missile defense will also
make an important contribution to furthering the relationship we both
seek.
# # #
|