AI SUMMARY – What you should know before reading
- Russia says it is no longer constrained by limits on nuclear warheads after New START expires.
- The treaty was the last remaining arms control agreement between the US and Russia.
- Moscow says future policy will depend on US actions.
- Washington argues that China must be part of any new nuclear deal.
Main Article
Russia has declared that it no longer considers itself bound by restrictions on its nuclear arsenal following the expiration of the New START treaty, the last remaining arms control agreement between Moscow and Washington. The announcement marks a significant turning point in global nuclear diplomacy, raising concerns about a potential new arms race.
The New START treaty, which entered into force in 2011, capped the number of deployed nuclear warheads at 1,550 and limited the deployment of strategic delivery systems. It was widely seen as a cornerstone of strategic stability between the world’s two largest nuclear powers. With its expiration on February 5, no binding framework remains to regulate US and Russian nuclear forces.
Russia’s foreign ministry said that once the treaty expires, both sides are freed from all obligations under the agreement. According to statements reported by AFP, Moscow will now shape its nuclear policy based on a detailed assessment of US military strategy and the broader strategic environment.
Russian officials emphasized that the country intends to act responsibly, while warning that decisive countermeasures could be taken if national security is threatened. President Vladimir Putin had already suspended Russia’s participation in the treaty in 2023, though he pledged at the time to respect its numerical limits.
The deterioration of arms control relations has been accelerated by the war in Ukraine, which has fundamentally altered relations between Russia and the West. Efforts to extend or replace New START stalled amid rising tensions and mutual accusations of non-compliance.
In Washington, attention has shifted toward the broader strategic picture. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that any future nuclear arms control framework must include China, citing Beijing’s rapidly expanding nuclear capabilities. US officials argue that bilateral agreements no longer reflect the realities of 21st-century nuclear dynamics.
Experts warn that the absence of formal constraints could lead to an unchecked expansion of nuclear arsenals and increased mistrust among major powers. The end of New START removes not only numerical limits but also transparency measures that helped reduce the risk of miscalculation.
As the treaty era draws to a close, diplomats and analysts alike question whether a new system of arms control can emerge in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical landscape. For now, the world enters a period of heightened uncertainty over the future of nuclear stability.