The final remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia expired at midnight GMT on Thursday, bringing the prospect of a renewed global arms race closer to reality.
New START, signed in 2010, and its predecessors had for decades limited the two countries’ strategic nuclear arsenals. The pact lapsed at midnight GMT (7 p.m. EST), according to the United Nations, with no agreement reached to extend it. As a result, the US and Russia are no longer bound by upper limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads.
Moscow said it would act responsibly but warned it would take “decisive” measures if its security were threatened, the Foreign Ministry stated. Washington has not announced plans to observe the treaty’s limits after the deadline.
Former US President Donald Trump had indicated last year that he thought a one-year extension, proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, “sounded like a good idea,” but no talks followed. Trump has insisted any future arms control deal must include China — a demand Beijing rejects and Moscow deems unnecessary.
Putin spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the treaty’s expiration, reiterating Russia’s commitment to “act in a balanced and responsible manner” and saying Moscow remains open to negotiations to ensure strategic stability, the Kremlin said.
US Senator Marco Rubio said Trump would decide on the treaty later and argued that including China was essential because of its rapidly growing nuclear stockpile. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul also urged China to show restraint in weapons development and said future arms control efforts should involve Beijing.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the treaty’s end is a “grave moment for international peace and security,” saying it comes at a time when the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is “the highest in decades.” Earlier, Pope Francis urged de-escalation and appealed not to abandon the instrument without seeking concrete and effective follow-up measures.
Edited by: Sean Sinico