Abstract
States consider nuclear weapons the ultimate weapon because they are capable of immense destruction. This destructive power worried the USA and Soviet Union, which led them to negotiate arms control treaties that first limited nuclear weapons and then began a process of gradual reduction. Verification of these reductions was a key issue during treaty negotiations during the Cold War to guard against cheating, but why continue to include verification protocols in nuclear arms control treaties between the two countries? This thesis traces the inclusion and exclusion of verification protocols in the START I, II, SORT, and New START. The thesis argues that even after the end of the Cold War verification protocols are both necessary and preferable for the USA and Russia because they provide insight into nuclear force operations, supplement national technical means (NTM) collection, and provide official and unofficial interaction between Russia and the USA. This interaction allows both countries to discuss a variety of subjects, beyond nuclear related issues, which strengthens the bilateral relationship.