U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty passes Senate

The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to ratify a new nuclear arms limitation treaty with Russia.

The treaty passed 71-26 when 13 Republican senators joined 56 Democrats and two independents in supporting it. Ratification required two-thirds support in the Senate.

The treaty now goes to President Barack Obama for ratification. Obama had pushed for the Senate to ratify the agreement before Congress returns in January with a stronger Republican presence.

The treaty is viewed as a big victory for Obama on his foreign policy agenda.

Speaking after the vote, Obama called the treaty "the most significant arms control agreement in nearly two decades."

The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, would reduce the number of nuclear warheads the U.S. and Russia have to 1,550, from the current cap of 2,200.

The treaty would also set up a system for nuclear arms monitoring.

"It will make us safer and reduce our nuclear arsenals along with Russia," Obama said, adding the U.S. will be able to "trust, but verify," a line borrowed from late U.S. president Ronald Reagan.

"We’ll continue to advance our relationship with Russia, which is essential to making progress on a host of challenges, from enforcing strong sanctions on Iran to preventing nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists."

Russia must still approve the treaty.