The termination of the last remaining US-Russia nuclear arms pact has raised concerns about a potential global atomic weapons arms race. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which was signed in 2010 to prevent a catastrophic nuclear war, has expired, marking the end of arms control cooperation between Washington and Moscow that played a role in ending the Cold War.
The treaty limited each party to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and included provisions for transparency such as data sharing and on-site inspections. With the treaty now expired, there are no longer binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the countries possessing the majority of the world’s nuclear weapons.
UN Secretary General António Guterres urged Russia and the US to quickly negotiate a new arms control regime to adapt to the evolving global context, emphasizing that the risk of nuclear weapon use is currently at its highest in decades. While Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to extend the treaty for another year if the US reciprocates, US President Donald Trump has not made a firm commitment.
Trump has expressed interest in maintaining limits on nuclear weapons and involving China in arms control discussions. However, China has shown reluctance to accept restrictions on its growing nuclear arsenal. Failure to reach an agreement on maintaining the treaty’s limits could lead to increased nuclear deployment and potentially trigger a dangerous three-way arms race involving the US, Russia, and China.
Arms control advocates have long warned that the expiration of the New START treaty could fuel a new arms race between Russia and the US, heighten global instability, and escalate the risk of nuclear conflict. The international community, including Pope Leo XIV, has called for efforts to ensure the treaty’s continuation to prevent these dire consequences.
Putin’s recent actions, such as lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons use in Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine, have added to concerns about the potential for increased nuclear tensions. Despite the challenges posed by the treaty’s expiration, there are ongoing discussions and efforts to negotiate a successor agreement to maintain strategic stability and prevent further escalation of nuclear threats.
