Nuclear arms deal with Russia back on table, Trump signals plan
US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump stated that he wants to prepare a new treaty to limit nuclear weapons between the United States and Russia. The current agreement expires in early 2026, he said during a conversation with journalists on July 25.
When asked by reporters whether he would support further reductions in global nuclear weapons, Trump responded affirmatively. However, the New START treaty — the third Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty — is set to expire in just six months.
"Create a new one. It's a problem for the world. You know, we have restrictions and they have restrictions, as you know, on nuclear. Uh, that's not an agreement you want expiring. Uh, we're starting to work on that, but that is a — that is a big problem for the world," the US president said.
What is new START
The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is an agreement between the United States and Russia aimed at further reducing and limiting strategic offensive arms. It focuses on the mutual reduction of deployed nuclear arsenals.
The treaty was signed in 2010 by the 44th US President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. It was originally set for a 10-year term, with the option of a five-year extension by mutual consent. New START replaced two previous agreements — START I (expired in 2002) and START II (expired in 2009).
Under the treaty, each side agreed to reduce its strategic nuclear forces so that, seven years after entry into force and thereafter, the total numbers would not exceed:
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700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers;
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1,550 warheads on those deployed systems;
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800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers.
When the treaty expires
New START is set to remain in effect until early 2026. As of now, there are no signs of a replacement agreement being negotiated. Trump has consistently insisted that any new treaty should include China — something Beijing has so far rejected.
On the other side, the Russian regime has blocked inspections of its nuclear facilities since 2022, in violation of treaty terms. In February 2023, as part of its nuclear blackmail strategy, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the unilateral suspension of Russia's participation in New START.
