New START Treaty

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Why in News?

Russia has raised alarms over the imminent expiry of the New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction), the last remaining bilateral nuclear arms control agreement with the U.S., warning of heightened strategic instability if it lapses.

Description:

Core Terms & Definitions

  • New START: The final active treaty regulating U.S.–Russia strategic nuclear arsenals.
  • Strategic Nuclear Weapons: Long-range weapons designed to strike an adversary’s homeland.
  • Arms Control Treaty: A formal agreement to limit, reduce, or regulate weapon stockpiles.
  • On-site Inspections: A verification mechanism allowing physical checks of nuclear facilities.

New START Treaty:

FeatureDetails
Signed / Entered into ForceSigned in 2010; entered into force in 2011
PartiesUnited States and Russia
Validity10 years + one-time extension of 5 years
Current StatusExtended in 2021; expires in February 2026

Key Provisions:

The treaty restricts both nations to the following limits:

  • 1,550 Deployed strategic nuclear warheads.
  • 700 Deployed delivery systems (ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers). (ICBMs: Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, SLBMs: Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles)
  • 800 Total launchers (combined deployed and non-deployed).
  • Verification: Mandates regular data exchanges, notifications, and on-site inspections.

Strategic Significance:

  • Stability: The last surviving Cold War-era framework ensuring predictability between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
  • Verification: Provides mutual transparency through rigorous data sharing.
  • Prevention: Acts as a primary barrier against an unconstrained global nuclear arms race.

Current Developments & Risks:

  • Status: Inspections are currently suspended due to heightened geopolitical tensions.
  • Diplomacy: Russia has signaled willingness for a short-term extension, pending a U.S. response.
  • The “Expiry Gap”: If the treaty expires without a successor, there will be no legally binding limits on strategic nuclear warheads for the first time in decades.

Consequences of Lapse:

  1. Zero Oversight: No legal caps on warheads or delivery systems.
  2. Strategic Miscalculation: Reduced transparency increases the risk of accidental escalation.
  3. Global Impact: Weakens the broader global nuclear non-proliferation architecture.

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