The cornerstone of nuclear arms control, the New START treaty, silently dissolved on February 5th. A Russian proposal to extend the existing warhead limits for a year, contingent on a similar move from Washington, met with silence, according to a Kremlin spokesperson.
While US Vice President Vance acknowledged ongoing discussions for a revised treaty, hinting at significant alterations, a stark reality emerged from the State Department. Officials confirmed there’s no informal understanding to maintain the treaty’s limits while formal negotiations proceed.
In response to the treaty’s expiration, President Putin has emphatically declared the modernization of Russia’s nuclear forces – its land, sea, and air-based capabilities – as an “unconditional priority.” This move, he stated, is essential to guaranteeing Russia’s security and maintaining a credible deterrent.
Despite this assertive stance, the Kremlin insists it has no desire to initiate escalation. This assurance, however, is explicitly linked to a reciprocal commitment from the United States to avoid being the first to act aggressively.
China, observing the unfolding situation, has weighed in with a pointed message delivered through its disarmament delegation in Geneva. They assert that, as the nation possessing the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, the United States bears a “special and primary responsibility” for leading the charge in nuclear disarmament – a position they describe as “international consensus.”
Notably, China’s delegation clarified that direct negotiations with Washington regarding a potential successor to New START are not currently underway, further complicating the landscape of global nuclear stability.
