politics
February 6, 2026
Trump comments on extending New START treaty
US President Donald Trump has dismissed the New START Treaty as a “badly negotiated deal,” suggesting a new “modernized” one instead
TL;DR
- Donald Trump believes the New START treaty is flawed and advocates for a new, modernized agreement.
- The New START treaty, signed in 2010, limits strategic nuclear warheads and launchers and includes monitoring mechanisms.
- Russia suspended treaty verification mechanisms in 2023, citing Ukrainian strikes and Western involvement.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Moscow's suggestion for a one-year treaty adherence extension received no response.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about the heightened risk of nuclear conflict and urged Russia and the US to negotiate a new treaty framework.
- China considers participating in talks for a new treaty pointless due to the incompatibility of its nuclear arsenal with Russia's and the US's.