FCNL and other national faith organizations requested that senators ask Mr. Tillerson about his stance on nuclear weapons during his nomination hearing for the position of Secretary of State. Senators Shaheen and Markey did ask Mr. Tillerson about his stance on nuclear issues.
New START Treaty
Senator Shaheen: Do you believe that continuing to support [the New START Treaty] is important for us?
Mr. Tillerson: This is an area where we have to stay engaged with Russia, hold them accountable to commitments made under the New START and also ensure that we are in a position to meet our accountability as well.
Nuclear Nonproliferation
Senator Markey: Do you agree with President-elect Trump when he said, quote, “it wouldn’t be a bad thing for us if Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia acquired nuclear weapons?”
Mr. Tillerson: Senator, I don’t think anyone advocates for more nuclear weapons on the planet.
Senator Markey: Donald Trump said it would not be a bad thing. Do you agree with that or disagree with that?
Mr. Tillerson: I do not agree.
Sen. Markey: You do not agree. Would you commit to working vigorously to ensure that no additional country on the planet obtains a nuclear weapons capacity?
Mr. Tillerson: Senator, I think if confirmed, it a vital — one of the vital roles of the state department to play in working in the national Security Council in an interagency way has to be the pursuit of the nuclear nonproliferation. We just simply cannot back away from our commitment to see a reduction in the number of these weapons on the planet.
Sen. Markey: Great. President-elect Trump recently said on Twitter that in his view the United States must, quote, “expand its nuclear capability” when warned this could trigger an arms race, he replied “let it be an arms race.” Do you agree with President-elect Trump that the United States should welcome a nuclear arms race with Russia or with China? Would that be a good thing for the United States?
Mr. Tillerson: Senator, I think as we’re pursuing nonproliferation, than we’re also pursing the enforcement of important agreements like new start, that we have to also approach those from a position of strength. I think in the context of some of the quotes that you’re running through here, the president-elect has also indicated a commitment to ensuring that the level of nuclear arms and capability that we are going to maintain under agreed treaties that those capabilities must be maintained and that from time to time that means we have to renew them and bring them up to date and ensure they are capable, otherwise we now have an asymmetric arrangement with the people we’re negotiating with.
