The New START Treaty, a key nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, expired on Thursday. The treaty, formally called the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms, aimed to limit the number of deployed strategic nuclear weapons held by both countries.
With the treaty no longer in effect, there are no current limits on the nuclear arsenals of the two largest nuclear powers. This development raises concerns about the future of arms control and the potential for increased nuclear proliferation.
**Why this matters**
The expiration of the treaty removes important verification measures and restrictions that helped maintain strategic stability between the U.S. and Russia. Without these controls, transparency and predictability in nuclear weapons deployment may decrease, increasing the risk of misunderstandings or escalation. The situation also complicates global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
Source: NewsData