Current Affairs·IR·medium
New START Treaty Lapses, Ends US-Russia Nuclear Arms Control Era
The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) between the USA and Russia expired on Feb 5, 2026, without a successor agreement. Signed in 2010 and extended in 2021, it was the last pact limiting the world's two largest nuclear arsenals. It capped deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and delivery systems at 700 for each side. The failure to renew or replace the treaty amid ongoing geopolitical friction marks the end of decades of formal bilateral arms control, sparking global fears of a new, unchecked nuclear arms race and diminished strategic stability. Key points:
Key points
- The New START treaty, the last remaining US-Russia nuclear pact, officially expired on February 5, 2026.
- It limited each country to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.
- Signed in 2010 by Presidents Obama and Medvedev, it included robust verification and data exchange mechanisms.
- Negotiations for a follow-on treaty stalled over disputes on scope, new weapon types, and the inclusion of China.
- This is the first time since 1972 that no nuclear arms limitation treaty is in force between the two powers.
- The lapse ends on-site inspections, increasing uncertainty and the risk of miscalculation. Why it matters: Crucial for understanding global security architecture and nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Links to the study of international treaties and disarmament.
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Posted 27 June 2026. More daily posts →