Agreement Concluded: Will the Nuclear Arms Race Between the US and Russia Restart

On February 5, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between Russia and the United States officially expired. This agreement had been the primary mechanism for maintaining the nuclear arsenals of the world’s two largest nuclear powers at a controlled level, as reported by the BBC Russian Service.

The document was originally adopted in 2010 and later extended until 2026. Under the treaty, both countries limited the number of nuclear warheads and their delivery systems while monitoring each other's military potential. The agreement capped the number of strategic launchers at 800 units and deployed nuclear warheads at 1,550.

However, Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023. The Russian Foreign Ministry explained this move by claiming that US actions in missile defense contradicted the treaty’s fundamental principles and disrupted the strategic balance.

With the expiration of the agreement, neither side remains bound by specific legal obligations to limit nuclear weapons. US President Donald Trump commented on the expiration, stating, "If it expires, it expires; we'll make a much better deal," suggesting a shift toward a new negotiation paradigm that might include other players like China.

Experts warn that the absence of such an agreement could lead to a renewed intensification of the nuclear arms race. Without transparency, countries may succumb to fear and uncertainty regarding each other's intentions, driving them to further increase their military stockpiles.

In the coming years, both the US and Russia plan to invest significantly in modernizing their nuclear forces, a trend that is heightening global security concerns.