President Donald Trump seems to be very interested in a new arms control agreement. The United States on Friday called for a new arms control agreement after the treaty that set caps on Russian and U.S. strategic nuclear weapons deployments expired on Thursday.
On Feb. 5, the New START treaty — the last legally binding agreement limiting U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons — officially expired. Signed in 2010 and extended once in 2021, the New START treaty set strict caps on deployed warheads, missiles, and bombers for the two largest nuclear powers. With its expiration, there are currently no formal limits on the number of strategic nuclear weapons that either country can deploy, raising concerns over potential instability in global security.
Russia had suggested both sides voluntarily extend the terms of the agreement for a year to provide time to discuss a successor treaty, but President Trump said in a social media post on Thursday that there should be a new treaty.
In response, U.S. officials, including Under Secretary of State Thomas DiNanno, publicly called for the negotiation of a new arms control agreement. The United States has emphasized the importance of a multilateral approach that could eventually include other nuclear powers, particularly China, to prevent destabilizing growth in global nuclear arsenals. While Russia has expressed regret over the expiration and signaled willingness to engage in discussions, China has so far declined to participate.
READ: Russia to hold security talks with Ukraine and US in Abu Dhabi (January 23, 2026)
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno told a Disarmament Conference in Geneva that extending New START — which set limits on the two biggest nuclear powers — would not benefit the U.S. or the world, as it was flawed and did not include China.
“Today, the United States faces threats from multiple nuclear powers. In short, a bilateral treaty with only one nuclear power is simply inappropriate in 2026 and going forward,” said DiNanno.
China’s ambassador on disarmament, Shen Jian, said on Friday his country would not participate in new negotiations with Moscow and Washington.
“China remains on track to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030,” DiNanno said, adding that Russia was supporting its buildup.
The expiration of the New START treaty marks a significant juncture in international arms control, emphasizing the delicate balance between national security and global stability. With formal limits between the United States and Russia no longer in place, there is a period of heightened uncertainty that could influence the trajectory of nuclear force development, deployment, and modernization. Policymakers must navigate a complex strategic environment in which multiple nuclear powers are expanding capabilities and pursuing independent security agendas.
READ: ‘I wasn’t happy’: Trump warns of new tariffs on India over Russian oil imports (January 5, 2026)
Efforts to negotiate a successor agreement highlight the growing importance of multilateral engagement, transparency, and verification mechanisms. Future frameworks may require innovative approaches to include additional nuclear powers while maintaining meaningful limitations on deployed arsenals.
How the United States, Russia, and other nuclear powers respond to the absence of legally binding limits — whether through restraint, accelerated modernization, or new negotiations — is not yet clear. The success of potential new agreements in stabilizing global security and reducing the risk of miscalculation is inherently dependent on political will, enforcement mechanisms, and mutual trust.
The current environment represents both a challenge and an opportunity for international cooperation in arms control, highlighting the need to adapt frameworks to a multipolar nuclear landscape while managing uncertainty about future actions and commitments.