加上俄罗斯方面威胁说如果美国的防御能力太过强大的话，它将单方面退出条约，因此有批评认为条约本身就赋予了俄方阻挠美国部署任何战略防御系统的口实。
Critics contend that the clause, along with the Kremlin’s implied warning that it could withdraw from the treaty unilaterally were America’s defenses to become too robust, provides the Kremlin with leverage to impede deployment of any strategic missile-defense system.