In a move with profound geopolitical ramifications, Russia has affirmed the complete termination of the New START arms control treaty with the United States. The Foreign Ministry’s February 5 declaration ends all mutual obligations, including numerical limits on nuclear stockpiles and delivery platforms.
Despite proactive Russian proposals to self-impose treaty ceilings beyond expiry, the U.S. has not engaged constructively. This silence, per Moscow, dissolves every commitment under the accord.
The ministry’s language is unequivocal: Nations are liberated from New START’s strictures and joint pledges. Future actions fall squarely within sovereign purview, especially if emerging threats demand defensive enhancements.
Optimism lingers for de-escalation. Russia pledges readiness for substantive political-diplomatic engagement to safeguard strategic parity.
Historical context enriches understanding. The 2010 treaty, ratified amid reset hopes, curbed arsenals significantly—1,550 deployed warheads apiece, verified through intrusive inspections. A 2021 extension forestalled early demise, but geopolitical frictions prevailed.
Notable voices: Putin floated a one-year compliance extension in late 2023, conditional on U.S. restraint. Trump voiced nonchalance last January, anticipating replacements. Post-INF exit, New START’s fall leaves bilateral arms control barren.
Stakeholders from Beijing to Brussels monitor closely. Absent swift revival, unchecked expansions loom, challenging nonproliferation norms. Moscow’s balanced posture—fortify yet negotiate—may set the tone for what’s next in superpower nuclear dynamics.