Washington (TDI): The last nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia officially ended on Thursday, removing longstanding limits on how many strategic warheads the two countries can deploy. Experts warn this could spark a renewed arms race and increase global security risks.
New START, signed during a period of relatively cooperative US-Russia relations, lapsed today after President Donald Trump did not respond to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to extend the agreement for another year.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the expiration as a “grave moment for international peace and security,” calling on both nations to return to the negotiating table without delay.
“For the first time in more than fifty years, there are no binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of Russia and the United States,” Guterres said. He also noted that tensions in Ukraine and past Russian hints at tactical nuclear use make the timing especially dangerous.
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Pope Leo XIV urged both sides to take all possible measures to prevent a new arms race. “Abandoning this treaty without ensuring it is followed up with concrete measures would be irresponsible,” he said.
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Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that both countries are now “free of obligations or symmetrical declarations under the treaty,” adding that Moscow would act “responsibly and prudently” but is prepared to respond decisively if its security is threatened, according to AFP.
The Trump administration had frequently criticized international arms limits on the US and suggested resuming nuclear testing, though no concrete steps were taken. Analysts argue that New START’s expiration reflected more administrative neglect than policy ideology, as career diplomats lacked the bandwidth to negotiate a complex extension.
When asked in October about Putin’s one-year extension proposal, Trump called it “a good idea,” but no follow-up occurred.
