U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Control Treaty Set to Expire

The New START Treaty, the final nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, expires Thursday, ending decades of restrictions on their nuclear arsenals. Signed in 2010, the treaty limited each country to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear weapons and mandated inspections, though Russia halted notifications and inspections amid the Ukraine conflict. President Biden extended the treaty in 2021, but it cannot be renewed further, prompting discussions on future arms control that may include China. Concerns over nuclear proliferation and the aging U.S. stockpile highlight the need for sustained investment in nuclear deterrence and modernization efforts.