A U.S. senator has delayed the consideration of Michael McFaul for ambassador to Moscow over concerns about possible future cuts to nuclear spending.
Republican Bob Corker had no specific objection to McFaul, the Obama administration’s top advisor on Russia and a key player in its “reset” policy in U.S.-Russia relations, but said he wanted assurances over government funding for the nation’s nuclear arsenal.
This will postpone a planned Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on McFaul for at least two weeks.
“We are working with the administration right now to get where we need to be on the [nuclear] modernization piece,” Corker told reporters.
“We weren't comfortable going ahead [with a vote on McFaul] until we got this other issue worked out,” the senator said
Last year, President Barack Obama persuaded Republicans to back the new START nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia by pledging $85 billion to modernize America’s nuclear arsenal.
But given the ongoing budget uncertainty in Washington, this goal may well be out of reach.
McFaul’s nomination may also face opposition on the Senate floor from senators critical of Russia’s human rights record.
