US-Russia Nuclear Disarmament Treaty Expires

The New START treaty between the US and Russia expires on February 5th, raising concerns about the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The treaty, signed in 2010, limited each side's nuclear arsenal to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 800 launchers and bombers. Inspections were suspended in 2023 due to the war in Ukraine.

Former US President Donald Trump had proposed extending the treaty for a year, but Washington never officially responded. Negotiations to renew the treaty remained deadlocked during Trump's term, as he wanted China to be included in an arms control agreement.

Meanwhile, Russia is waiting to see the US's moves after the treaty expires. The US withdrew from another disarmament treaty in 2019, the INF, for intermediate-range nuclear weapons.

Additionally, the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in April in New York faces the risk of diplomatic failure.

Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ