NewsPulse Logo
New START Nuclear Treaty Expires Amid Calls for Replacement
usarussianuclear

New START Nuclear Treaty Expires Amid Calls for Replacement

•
Sarah MitchellSarah Mitchell
Share

New START Nuclear Treaty Expires Amid Calls for Replacement

US President Donald Trump has called for a new nuclear treaty to replace the New START treaty, which expired on February 5, citing the need for a modernized and improved agreement. The treaty, which limited the number of nuclear warheads and delivery systems in the US and Russia, was signed in 2010 and allowed for a single five-year extension. Trump's statement came in response to a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend the treaty for one more year, which Trump rejected as "badly negotiated" and "grossly violated."

Key Highlights

  • The New START treaty expired on February 5, leaving no limits on US and Russian nuclear arsenals
  • Trump called for a new nuclear treaty to replace New START, citing the need for a modernized and improved agreement
  • Putin proposed a one-year extension of the treaty, which Trump rejected
  • The treaty limited each side to 1,550 warheads on 700 delivery systems
  • The US and Russia have resumed high-level, military-to-military dialogue, which was suspended in 2021
  • China has said it will not participate in a new nuclear arms reduction treaty
  • The expiration of the treaty has raised concerns about a new arms race between the US and Russia

The Deep Context

The New START treaty was signed in 2010 by then-President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, with the goal of reducing the number of nuclear warheads and delivery systems in the US and Russia. The treaty allowed for a single five-year extension, which was agreed to by Putin and former US President Joe Biden in 2021. However, the treaty's expiration has raised concerns about a new arms race between the US and Russia, with some experts warning that the lack of limits on nuclear arsenals could lead to an increase in tensions and instability. According to The Independent: The last remaining US-Russia nuclear treaty expires today – risking a new arms race, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security. As noted by The Guardian: The last US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty is expiring. We must stop a new arms race, the lack of a new treaty could lead to a significant increase in nuclear arms production.

The history of nuclear arms control treaties between the US and Russia dates back to the 1960s, with the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) treaty in 1972. Since then, there have been several treaties and agreements aimed at reducing the number of nuclear warheads and delivery systems, including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987 and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in 1991. As MSN: The treaty limiting US and Russian nuclear arms expired. What to know notes, the expiration of the New START treaty marks a significant shift in the nuclear arms control landscape.

The US and Russia have also resumed high-level, military-to-military dialogue, which was suspended in 2021. According to Yahoo: Trump: Nuclear treaty needed to replace New START treaty with Russia, this development is seen as a positive step towards reducing tensions and improving communication between the two countries. However, as Al Jazeera: Last US-Russia nuclear treaty is expiring: Does it really matter? notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

Voices from the Streets

The expiration of the New START treaty has raised concerns among experts and citizens around the world. According to MSN: Nuke treaty loss a 'colossal' failure leading to arms race, the lack of a new treaty could lead to a significant increase in nuclear arms production and a heightened risk of conflict. As The Guardian: The last US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty is expiring. We must stop a new arms race notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

In an interview with Yahoo: Analysis-Barring last-minute nuclear deal, US and Russia teeter on brink of new..., a senior US official stated that the US is committed to reducing the risk of nuclear conflict and is working towards a new treaty. However, as The Independent: The last remaining US-Russia nuclear treaty expires today – risking a new arms race notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

Legislative & Jurisdictional Conflict

The expiration of the New START treaty has raised concerns about the potential for a new arms race between the US and Russia. According to MSN: The treaty limiting US and Russian nuclear arms expired. What to know, the lack of a new treaty could lead to a significant increase in nuclear arms production and a heightened risk of conflict. As The Guardian: The last US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty is expiring. We must stop a new arms race notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

The US and Russia have also resumed high-level, military-to-military dialogue, which was suspended in 2021. According to Yahoo: Trump: Nuclear treaty needed to replace New START treaty with Russia, this development is seen as a positive step towards reducing tensions and improving communication between the two countries. However, as Al Jazeera: Last US-Russia nuclear treaty is expiring: Does it really matter? notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

Projections & Critical Questions

The expiration of the New START treaty has raised concerns about the potential for a new arms race between the US and Russia. According to MSN: Nuke treaty loss a 'colossal' failure leading to arms race, the lack of a new treaty could lead to a significant increase in nuclear arms production and a heightened risk of conflict. As The Guardian: The last US-Russia nuclear arms control treaty is expiring. We must stop a new arms race notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

The US and Russia have also resumed high-level, military-to-military dialogue, which was suspended in 2021. According to Yahoo: Trump: Nuclear treaty needed to replace New START treaty with Russia, this development is seen as a positive step towards reducing tensions and improving communication between the two countries. However, as Al Jazeera: Last US-Russia nuclear treaty is expiring: Does it really matter? notes, the expiration of the treaty has significant implications for global security and the potential for a new arms race.

Related Coverage

Discussion

Back to all articles