Last US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Expires What's At Stake?

2026-02-05 04:09:09

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States – the New START treaty – expired on February 5, removing any caps on the two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in over 50 years and raising the risk of a new arms race. Select your language

Generated with artificial intelligence. Listening: Last US-Russia nuclear treaty expires – what's at stake? This content was published on February 5, 2026 - 09:00 7 minutes

Based in Geneva, I cover the work of the United Nations and other international organisations there. My focus is on humanitarian aid, human rights, and peace diplomacy. I studied business and economics at the University of Lausanne before training as a journalist and joining SWI swissinfo in 2021.

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What is the New START treaty?

The New START treaty is a bilateral agreement between Washington and Moscow. Signed in 2010 by presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, it has been in force since 2011 and limits the long-range nuclear arsenals of the US and Russia.

The agreement caps each country at 1,550“strategically deployed” nuclear warheads. It does not cover“tactical” weapons with generally lower power and range, such as those that Vladimir Putin refused to use in Ukraine. The term“deployed” refers to a warhead mounted on either a missile or a bomber. The treaty limits their number to 700 each, while launchers are limited to 800.

The treaty is part of a series of agreements – such as the SALT, START and SORT treaties – which aimed to reduce the total nuclear arsenal of the US and Russia, which exceeded 60,000 warheads at the end of the Cold War. The treaty was initially due to expire in 2021, but was extended for an additional five years until February 4, 2026. No other extension is possible under the terms of the agreement.

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