Clinton plans major arms control speech

Our indefatiguable and intrepid Secretary of State will be making a major statement about arms control today. Stayed tuned. As soon as particulars are available, I will post them.

From Jill Dougherty
CNN Foreign Affairs Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will deliver a major address on arms control and international security at the U.S. Institute of Peace Wednesday.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will say that U.S. allies and partners "should know that we have their backs."

While promoting President Obama's goal of reducing the role of nuclear weapons in the United States' defense posture, Clinton will argue that the United States will retain a safe, secure and effective strategic force.

According to talking points provided to CNN by a senior administration official, Clinton will say that U.S. allies and partners "should know that we have their backs; any adversary should know we will defend ourselves."

Clinton will focus on efforts by President Obama to restore the strength of the nuclear nonproliferation regime, eliminate the potential sources of nuclear terrorism and move toward the vision of a world without nuclear weapons.

She will argue that the more productive path toward reducing the threat from nuclear weapons is to engage U.S. allies and partners around the world in diplomacy.

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