With New START expiring, fears of a new nuclear arms race grow; it’s a key US-Russia treaty from 2010 aimed at limiting nukes.
The New START treaty, which limited US and Russian nuclear arsenals, expired on February 5, 2026, ending decades of arms control. Russia proposes a one-year extension; the US has yet to respond. Without the treaty, there are fears of a renewed arms race and increased global instability.
On February 5, 2026, the New START treaty between the US and Russia expired, ending over 50 years of nuclear arms limits between the two powers. Russia offered a one-year extension, but the US declined, seeking a new treaty including China, which refuses to join. Both sides remain committed to restraint, but the absence of formal limits raises fears of a renewed nuclear arms race.
The New START treaty, which limited US and Russian nuclear arsenals, expired on Thursday. Both nations are now free to increase their stockpiles, raising fears of a renewed arms race amid ongoing geopolitical tensions. Efforts to negotiate a new deal are ongoing, but no agreement has been reached.