Urgent Call from UN Chief on US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Expiry

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding the termination of the New START nuclear agreement between the United States and Russia. The treaty, which set limits on the countries' nuclear arsenals, is set to officially expire on February 5, 2026, an event that Mr. Guterres described as a 'grave moment for international peace and security.' In a statement released on February 4, Guterres urged both nations to swiftly negotiate a successor agreement, highlighting the absence of binding limitations on their strategic nuclear weapons for the first time in over fifty years.

Guterres pointed out that the dissolution of the New START agreement, along with other arms control treaties, could lead to severe security implications globally. He remarked, 'This dissolution of decades of achievement could not come at a worse time — the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is the highest in decades.' While he did not elaborate further, the UN chief stressed the importance of returning to the negotiating table promptly to establish a new framework for nuclear arms control.

Together, Russia and the United States are responsible for managing over 80% of the world’s nuclear warheads. The New START agreement, originally signed in 2010, limited the number of deployed strategic warheads for each country to 1,550, representing a significant reduction of nearly 30% from limits imposed in 2002. The treaty also permitted on-site inspections of each side's nuclear facilities, a process that has been stalled since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, with no indications of resumption.

The forthcoming end of the New START agreement has raised concerns among international leaders and arms control advocates, who fear that without a framework, the probability of nuclear escalation and arms races may increase. As the world looks on, the call for renewed dialogue between the US and Russia remains critical in pursuit of global nuclear stability.