New START treaty expires
By Krishna Arya | Network Bharat
New START treaty expires: The global nuclear order has crossed a historic and unsettling line.
With the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the United States and Russia are now operating without any legally binding limits on their nuclear weapons for the first time in over 50 years. The moment became even more volatile after Donald Trump rejected a proposal from Vladimir Putin to voluntarily maintain nuclear restraints.
The decision has reignited fears of a new nuclear arms race—one unfolding in a world already strained by war, rival alliances, and fragile diplomacy.
The Treaty That Kept Nuclear Rivalry in Check
Signed in 2010 by then US President Barack Obama and Russia’s former leader Dmitry Medvedev, New START capped deployed nuclear warheads and delivery systems on both sides.
Just as importantly, it allowed inspections—critical for transparency and trust between two adversaries with the planet’s largest nuclear stockpiles.
That system is now gone.
Trump: “New START Was a Bad Deal”
Reacting to the treaty’s expiration, Trump blasted New START as “badly negotiated” and “grossly violated.” He made it clear he had no interest in extending the agreement or accepting Putin’s stopgap proposal.
Instead, Trump called for US nuclear experts to design a new, tougher, and more modern treaty, arguing that outdated frameworks no longer serve American interests.
Military Power Takes Center Stage
Trump framed his rejection within a broader narrative of strength.
He claimed his presidency saw a complete rebuilding of the US military—highlighting nuclear modernization, naval expansion, and the creation of the Space Force. He even compared modern US warships to historic vessels like the Iowa and Missouri, saying today’s fleet is vastly more powerful.
The message was unmistakable: deterrence through dominance, not restraint.
Russia’s Earlier Exit Set the Stage
The treaty’s collapse was already in motion. In February 2023, Moscow suspended its participation, arguing it could not allow US inspections while Washington and NATO openly backed Ukraine and sought Russia’s strategic defeat.
Although New START technically survived for 2 more years, the foundation of trust had already crumbled.
Why the World Is Alarmed
New START was the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow—a lineage that began with SALT I in 1972 during the Cold War.
Experts warn that without limits:
- Nuclear stockpiles could quietly expand
- Transparency between rivals could vanish
- Miscalculations could spiral into catastrophe
In an era of rapid weapons modernization and rising geopolitical rivalry, the absence of rules is deeply unsettling.
A Nuclear Future Without Guardrails
There is currently no replacement treaty, no inspection regime, and no clear roadmap forward. While Trump has spoken of a future agreement, diplomatic realities suggest it may not come anytime soon.
Until then, the world is navigating a nuclear landscape with fewer safeguards, higher stakes, and growing uncertainty.
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