New START Treaty Expiry: A Prelude to Nuclear Arms Race?

The expiration of the New START Treaty between the US and Russia marks the end of the last arms control agreement, raising fears of a new nuclear arms race. Discussions have stalled as leaders debate the inclusion of China and other nations in future nuclear agreements.

The Kremlin expressed regret over the expiration of the New START Treaty, ending the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States. Experts warn that this development could trigger a new nuclear arms race, as the treaty's absence leaves no caps on the world's largest atomic arsenals for the first time in decades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled a willingness to negotiate an extension if the United States reciprocates, but former US President Donald Trump's administration showed hesitance, highlighting an interest in including China in any future deals. However, Beijing resisted such calls, complicating diplomatic efforts.

With Russia and the US at an impasse, arms control advocates fear the potential for a rapid escalation in nuclear stockpiles, notably as the strategic dynamics now involve not just these two superpowers but also China, among other nuclear nations.

(With inputs from agencies.)