Nuclear Showdown: US and Russia Unleashed as New START Treaty Expires

As the world's two largest nuclear powers are left with no legally binding limits on their arsenals, the global community braces for a potential arms race and a higher nuclear risk.

Story: New START Treaty Expiration Sparks Global Concerns and Calls for Modernized Agreement

Published: February 07, 2026 at 10:12 AM

Story Summary

The expiration of the New START treaty, the last nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia, has triggered global apprehension over a potential arms race and heightened nuclear risk. Amid the uncertainty, there are calls for a new, modernized treaty, with President Trump criticizing the old agreement and advocating for a future-proof deal. The geopolitical landscape, however, has changed significantly since the inception of the treaty, with nuclear multipolarity and new domains of confrontation complicating the path forward.

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New START Treaty Expires, Igniting Concerns Over a New Arms Race and Calls for a Modernized Agreement

The expiration of the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), the last nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, has provoked a global wave of uncertainty and apprehension over the potential for a new arms race and a heightened nuclear risk. This marks the first time in over 50 years that the world's two largest nuclear powers have no limits on their arsenals, a situation Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as a grave moment for international peace and security (RT, Russia Today).

The New START Context

Signed in 2010 and officially expired on February 5th, 2026, the New START treaty served as a stabilizing force between the US and Russia, establishing caps on the number of strategic nuclear warheads and launchers that could be deployed, and instituting a monitoring mechanism for both nations' arsenals (RT, Russia Today). The treaty's termination leaves both nations without legally binding limits on their arsenals or an inspection regime, a development that could trigger a reassessment of nuclear planning based on uncertainty and worst-case scenario assessments (TASS, Fox News).

Calls for a New, Modernized Treaty

The treaty's expiration sparked swift reactions from leaders. US President Donald Trump dismissed the New START as a badly negotiated deal, alleging it was being grossly violated. Instead, he called for the creation of a new, improved, and modernized treaty that could endure into the future (Fox News, RT, Russia Today).

Meanwhile, Russian officials swiftly pushed back against such criticism. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia's security council, stated that under these terms, there would never be a treaty, arguing that Washington is demanding limits that ignore other nuclear-armed states and new weapons systems (Fox News).

A Multipolar Nuclear World and China's Refusal

The geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically since the inception of the START agreement. Nuclear multipolarity is now a reality, and new domains of confrontation have opened in cyberspace, outer space, and even biotechnology (RT, Russia Today).

While Washington has expressed a desire to involve China in a nuclear arms control agreement, the Asian country has consistently refused such propositions (Clarin). The US even accused China of secretly conducting a nuclear test in 2020, a claim that Beijing denied, further escalating tension between the two nations (South China Morning Post).

Future Uncertainties and Global Reactions

The global community has expressed concerns about this newfound nuclear uncertainty. The United Nations warned of the risk of a nuclear weapon being used being the highest in decades (RT, Russia Today), and the EUA and Russia have indicated the path for a new negotiation involving other countries with nuclear weapons (Folha de S.Paulo).

In conclusion, as the New START treaty ends, the world has stepped into an era of uncharted nuclear territory. The path forward remains uncertain, with calls for a new, modernized treaty, and a pressing need for wider international dialogue on strategic weapons.