U.S. and Russia Face Unrestricted Nuclear Arms as New START Treaty Expires
The expiration of the New START treaty has left the United States and Russia without any limits on their nuclear arsenals for the first time in decades. The treaty, which was in place for 15 years, capped the number of nuclear weapons each country could deploy and established a system of notifications and inspections to ensure compliance. With its expiration, there are no longer any formal constraints on the size of the U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. The treaty's end comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which disrupted negotiations for a new agreement. Despite the expiration, experts do not anticipate an immediate arms race, though the potential for future escalation remains a concern. 
