The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) between the United States and Russia, signed in 2010, will expire on February 6, 2026. This has intensified concerns about a possible arms race amid growing geopolitical tensions.
New START limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems maintained by each party. This also prevents either side from increasing their deployed warheads beyond the 1,550 mark.
New START is one of eight such agreements between the two countries. Following the war between Ukraine and Russia and other geopolitical conflicts, if the treaty is not renewed, it will mark the end of 50 years of nuclear arms control.
According to the Daily Mailthe United States and Russia collectively hold 87% of the world’s nuclear arsenal. If they decide to operate independently without mutual restrictions, it could trigger a new arms race, prompting other major powers to expand their nuclear arsenals for security reasons.
Experts warn that at a time when the Russian and US governments are unpredictable, the absence of a vital global arms control framework could prove catastrophic for the world.
The treaty itself cannot be extended because it only allowed one extension, which Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Joe Biden took advantage of in 2021 for five years.
President Trump, however, expressed hope of formulating a new and “better” agreement. In an interview with New York Times On Wednesday, he said: “If it expires, it expires. We’ll just make a better deal.”
Trump added that since China has the fastest growing nuclear arsenal, this should also be included in the new treaty.
