New START Treaty Expiration Looms

The New START Treaty, the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, is set to expire, removing caps on their atomic arsenals for the first time in over half a century. This termination is feared to trigger an unconstrained nuclear arms race, potentially involving China, which is also expanding its nuclear capabilities. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed readiness to extend the treaty for a year, but former U.S. President Donald Trump has been noncommittal, instead suggesting involving China in arms control talks and proposing a 'Golden Dome' missile defense system. Arms control advocates, including Arms Control Association of the Arms Control Association, warn of increased global instability and nuclear conflict risk. Russia has already suspended its participation in New START inspections due to the conflict in Ukraine and has developed new nuclear weapons like the 9M730 Burevestnik and Poseidon in response to perceived U.S. threats. The potential resumption of nuclear tests by the United States, which Vladimir Putin has vowed to match, further exacerbates these concerns, leading to a more dangerous period of global nuclear competition.