Lawmakers fear a global arms race as the last treaty comes to an end.<\/b>
\nFor the first time in fifty years, there is no nuclear arms treaty between the United States and Russia. The last agreement between the two global powers came to an end on Thursday, as negotiations over the last remaining joint pact ended in disagreement.
The New START Treaty mandated that both nations be limited to 700 intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers armed with no more than 1,500 nuclear warheads. The treaty was extended in 2021, though Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would be suspending involvement in the agreement in February 2023 in the midst of the invasion of Ukraine.
Putin was reportedly open to extending the treaty in 2025, but President Donald Trump demurred, arguing that China should be part of the pact.
\u201cIf it expires, it expires,\u201d Trump told the New York Times in January. \u201cWe\u2019ll do a better agreement.\u201d
Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the expiration of the treaty, saying Trump wants to \u201cdo something\u201d regarding China\u2019s nuclear arsenal.
\u201cThe President has been clear in the past that in order to have true arms control in the 21st century, it\u2019s impossible to do something that doesn\u2019t include China because of their vast and rapidly growing stockpile,\u201d Rubio said in a statement.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the treaty played \u201ca positive role in reducing the risks of further undermining strategic stability,\u201d while vowing to remain \u201cready to take decisive military-technical measures\u201d to security threats.
\u201cAt the same time, our country remains open to seeking politico-diplomatic ways to comprehensively stabilize the strategic situation on the basis of equal and mutually beneficial dialogue solutions,\u201d it said in a statement on Wednesday.
The expiring treaty drew warnings and condemnations from U.S. and Russian lawmakers. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called the situation \u201cserious.\u201d
\u201cWithout a new agreement, we\u2019re at risk of an arms race,\u201d Warren said on Wednesday. \u201cThe Trump Administration must continue to pursue arms control deals to keep Americans safe.\u201d
Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said the expiration \u201cbrings great risk for a dangerous and costly\u201d arms race between the U.S., Russia and China.
\u201cAs the Doomsday Clock ticks closer and closer to midnight, we must replace New START as soon as we can. We cannot wait any longer,\u201d Markey said in a statement.
Deputy Chair of Russia\u2019s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev made a cryptic statement on X, which included the phrase \u201cwinter is coming.\u201d
\u201cThat\u2019s it. For the first time since 1972, Russia (the former USSR) and the U.S. have no treaty limiting strategic nuclear forces,\u201d Medvedev wrote. \u201cAll in the past.\u201d
However, a deal between the U.S. and Russia may still be possible. Sources close to the negotiations told Axios that a \u201cgood faith\u201d agreement, under which both countries would continue to follow the expired treaty\u2019s rules, is being discussed.<\/p>\n