The New START treaty on nuclear arms reduction between Russia and the United States has expired without a new agreement in place, raising concerns over global nuclear arsenals.
The New START treaty, which aimed to limit the nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia, officially expired on the 5th of this month. The failure to renew the treaty comes after U.S. President Donald Trump did not pursue a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend the agreement by an additional year. Trump asserted that any new agreements in the nuclear sphere should encompass China, indicating a desire for a broader multilateral approach to nuclear arms reduction.
Originally signed in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dimitri Medvedev, the New START treaty imposed significant restrictions on the number of strategic nuclear warheads each country could deploy. It capped the number at 1,550 warheads and limited deployed delivery systems to 700, reflecting a reduction of nearly 30% from earlier agreements made in 2002. The end of this treaty marks a critical juncture in international nuclear policy, as it is the first time in decades that there is no legally binding agreement between the two largest nuclear powers.
The expiration of the New START treaty raises serious concerns about the future of nuclear arms control and the potential for a new arms race. With ongoing geopolitical tensions and the absence of diplomatic frameworks to manage nuclear arsenals, experts warn that the lack of transparency and communication could lead to increased miscalculations and instability in global security. The call for a new agreement that includes China highlights the shifting dynamics of nuclear diplomacy in the 21st century, where emerging powers are becoming central to discussions on global security.
