Geneva: The lapse of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) has triggered renewed concerns over global nuclear stability, with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warning that the development represents a serious setback for international security and arms control efforts.
New START, which came into force in 2011, imposed verifiable limits on the number of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems maintained by the United States and Russia. For more than a decade, the treaty served as a central pillar of global nuclear restraint, promoting transparency and reducing the risk of miscalculation between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Guterres noted that the treaty’s expiration marks the first time in over five decades that there are no binding restrictions governing US and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. Together, the two countries possess the majority of the world’s nuclear weapons, making the absence of formal limits a matter of global concern.
The UN chief cautioned that the current international environment is particularly volatile, with rising geopolitical tensions increasing the perceived risk of nuclear confrontation. Analysts warn that without enforceable agreements, the likelihood of a renewed arms race could grow, undermining decades of non-proliferation progress.
Guterres urged Washington and Moscow to resume dialogue and work toward a successor framework that includes robust verification mechanisms and reflects modern security challenges. He emphasized that effective arms control remains essential to reducing risks and maintaining international trust.
The end of New START follows the earlier collapse of other key agreements, including the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, further weakening the global arms control architecture. Observers stress that renewed diplomatic engagement will be critical to preventing escalation and preserving long-term global security.
