The expiration of the New START nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia on February 5, 2026, marks a pivotal and concerning moment for international peace and security, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 4, Guterres urged Washington and Moscow to quickly negotiate and sign a new agreement, emphasizing that the lapse of the treaty removes one of the last remaining safeguards limiting the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals.
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which entered into force in 2011, placed verifiable limits on deployed strategic nuclear warheads, intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers. Its expiration formally releases both countries from these restrictions, raising fears of a renewed nuclear arms race.
“The end of New START comes at a grave moment for international peace and security,” Guterres said, stressing that arms control agreements are essential not only for reducing the risk of nuclear conflict but also for building trust between rival powers.
The treaty’s collapse follows years of strained U.S.–Russia relations, heightened geopolitical tensions, and stalled arms control dialogue. With no successor agreement in place, experts warn that transparency measures such as inspections and data exchanges will also cease, increasing the risk of miscalculation and escalation.
The United Nations has repeatedly called for renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament, in line with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Guterres reiterated that global security depends on responsible leadership and cooperation, particularly among nuclear-armed states.
As the world watches the treaty expire, the absence of a binding framework governing U.S. and Russian nuclear forces underscores growing uncertainty in the global security landscape and intensifies calls for urgent diplomatic action.