The New START Treaty, the last remaining major arms control agreement between the United states adn Russia, expired on February 5, 2026, raising concerns about a renewed nuclear arms race. The treaty, which limited the number of strategic nuclear warheads each ⁤country could deploy, was originally signed in 2010 and extended for five ⁢years in 2021.

US Criticisms and Calls for a New⁤ Approach

U.S. ⁣State Department spokesperson for arms ⁤control, Thomas Drennan, stated at a United Nations conference on disarmament that “New START” had significant shortcomings. ⁣”Serious Russian violations, a growing stockpile⁣ worldwide, and deficiencies ⁢in the New START Treaty and ⁣its implementation create a clear need for ⁢the united States to call for a new architecture focused on the threats of today, not yesterday,” Drennan said at‍ the Geneva conference Reuters.

The China Factor

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