In a statement released on February 5, 2026, President Donald Trump confirmed that he will not extend the nuclear arms control treaty with Russia known as New START, which has been in place since 2010. The treaty, which limited deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 for both countries, expired earlier that day, marking a significant turning point in U.S.-Russia relations.
Trump criticized the treaty, labeling it as “badly negotiated” and stated, “Instead of extending New START, we should have our nuclear experts work on a new, improved, and modernized treaty.” His comments signal a shift in nuclear strategy, calling for a fresh agreement that not only addresses the U.S. and Russian arsenals but also aims to include China in negotiations—an initiative that could complicate future discussions.
The expiration of New START has raised alarm among international experts and officials, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who remarked that this moment represents “a grave moment for international peace and security.” Without any binding limits on nuclear arsenals for the first time in decades, the risk of an unconstrained nuclear arms race is heightened.
Officials in Moscow expressed regret over the treaty's expiration, with a spokesperson highlighting that Russia viewed the New START agreements as pivotal for maintaining strategic stability. They reiterated their willingness to engage in discussions over nuclear arms control moving forward.
Analysts note that both the U.S. and Russia possess approximately 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons, making the breakdown of the treaty particularly concerning. Trump’s intention to involve China in future negotiations has already been met with resistance from Beijing, which maintains that it should not participate until the U.S. and Russia reduce their stockpiles further.
As the geopolitical landscape shifts, the absence of the New START treaty raises uncertainty about nuclear policies, leading many to question the future of arms control and peace efforts worldwide. With Trump’s administration signaling a new era of nuclear diplomacy, the world watches closely to see how these strategies unfold.