New START Treaty Expires; Trump Calls for New Treaty

The New START nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia expired, prompting former US President Donald Trump to call for a new, modernized agreement that includes China. Russia had previously halted inspections under the treaty and now claims it is not bound by warhead limits. China, whose nuclear arsenal is growing, has rejected calls to join disarmament negotiations. Campaigners and international organizations, including the United Nations and NATO, have expressed grave concerns about the dissolution of the treaty, warning of reduced nuclear stability, increased global security risks, and the potential for an unconstrained nuclear arms race. The United States and Russia have, however, resumed military dialogue.