In just 100 days, the 2010 New Strategic Arms Control Treaty (New START), the last remaining arms control treaty between the US and Russia, the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, is set to expire.
New START limits US and Russian nuclear forces to 1550 strategic warheads and 700 strategic launchers deployed on each side. New START has also made a major contribution to helping the United States and Russia meet their obligations under the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to “pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.”
If nothing replaces New START, both countries could rapidly expand their arsenals for the first time in 35 years, risking a new nuclear arms race between Russia, China, and the United States, creating geopolitical instability, higher risk of nuclear conflict, and an enormous new wave of spending on weapons.
Russia is “prepared to continue observing the … central quantitative restrictions” of the 2010 New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for one year after its expiration if the United States “acts in a similar spirit,” Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 22 at a Russian Security Council meeting. Following the proposed one-year extension, Russia would make “a careful assessment of the situation [and] a definite decision on whether to uphold these voluntary self-limitations,” Putin said. However, there has been no confirmation on the American side to agree to Russia’s proposal.
To help press the White House to move in the right direction on the issue, a number of DC-based and local grassroots organizations have committed to taking action. With just 100 days before New START expires on February 5, 2026, this last week of October is an important opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of New START, its expiration, and the urgent need for an extension and a follow-on agreement. Click here to take action now!
You can take action by urging members of Congress to publicly encourage President Trump to negotiate a follow-on treaty that limits the spread of nuclear weapons. Congress can help steer us toward diplomacy and away from disaster. Two sets of bicameral resolutions—H.Res. 100 and H.Res. 317 in the House and S.Res. 61 and S.Res. 323 in the Senate—are our rallying points. H.Res. 100/S.Res. 61 specifically call for urgent negotiations to replace New START, continued U.S. and Russian compliance with current established limits, and separate engagement with China to reduce nuclear risks. H.Res. 317/S.Res. 323 goes further and calls for the United States to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons as a national security imperative.
Now is the time to join the calls for a resumption to arms control negotiations, especially with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) rapidly modernizing our nuclear stockpile. In Livermore, NNSA announced its proposal for “Enhanced Plutonium Facility Utilization” at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab (Livermore Lab). The proposed plan would significantly increase the allowable quantities of nuclear weapons-grade plutonium stored at the Livermore Lab, raise the allowable quantities to be trucked in and out of the Lab, using roads and freeways such as the nearby I-580, and would enable the Lab to conduct riskier operations with plutonium above what is currently authorized.
With nuclear modernization driving a major increase in operations at Livermore Lab, arms control treaties like New START are extremely crucial, putting limits on modernization.
It is imperative that Congress and the President extend New START. Join us in urging your Representative and Senators to co-sponsor these resolutions and publicly support a follow-on agreement before New START expires! You can send a letter to your Members of Congress from the Arms Control Association action page….
Para leer esta información en español HAGA CLIC AQUÍ!