Breaking news from Moscow: The New START treaty is history. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has notified the world that as of February 5, neither it nor the United States remains tethered to the landmark nuclear arms accord. This development strips away legal barriers on strategic nuclear forces, ushering in uncertain times.
Key details emerged in the ministry’s statement. Russia’s voluntary extension offer met silence from Washington. Consequently, all treaty articles—from warhead ceilings to verification protocols—are void. Both powers can now chart independent courses for their nuclear postures.
Heightened rhetoric underscores the shift. If national security faces novel risks, Russia vows ‘resolute military-technical measures.’ This readiness tempers with openness to dialogue for strategic equilibrium under favorable circumstances.
Rewind to the treaty’s origins: Presidents Obama and Medvedev inked it in 2010, effective 2011, with limits at 1,550 warheads, 700 deployed delivery vehicles. Extended to 2026 amid tensions, it endured U.S. suspension of inspections in 2022.
Putin’s 2023 overture for post-expiration adherence went unreciprocated. Trump’s recent comments suggest little alarm, betting on future pacts. With INF treaty’s 2019 demise, New START was the final pillar standing.
Implications ripple globally. Without caps, modernization races could accelerate, inflating risks of miscalculation. Pundits urge immediate negotiations to fill the void. Russia’s dual message—strength and talk—signals pragmatic deterrence in a fractured security landscape.