Last nuclear weapons limits expired – pushing world toward new arms race

The expiration of the New START treaty has the US and Russia poised to increase the number of their deployed strategic nuclear weapons, pushing the world into dangerous territory.

By: Matthew Bunn, Harvard Kennedy School, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 19, 2026

Words: 1,393

Last Updated: 3 days, 11 hours ago

Body Text Preview

By Matthew Bunn, Harvard Kennedy School

For the first time in more than half a century, there are no binding restraints on the buildup of the largest nuclear forces on Earth. The New START treaty expired on Feb. 5, 2026, ending the last agreed limits on U.S. and Russian nuclear forces.

New START limited the number of strategic nuclear weapons the United States and Russia could deploy to 1,550 each. It also limited …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us