The New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia, signed on April 8, 2010 in Prague, and entered into force on February 5, 2011. It is the most recent major arms control pact between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.

Here are the key points:

Main Provisions

• Limits on Nuclear Weapons

  • Each side is limited to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads.

  • 700 deployed delivery systems (intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers).

  • 800 total launchers (deployed and non-deployed).

• Verification Measures

  • On-site inspections.

  • Data exchanges and notifications.

  • Use of telemetry and other monitoring tools to ensure compliance.

• Duration

  • Initially set to last 10 years, with the possibility of extension.

  • In February 2021, the treaty was extended for five more years, until February 2026.

Importance

• It is considered a cornerstone of nuclear arms control between the U.S. and Russia.

• Provides transparency and predictability in nuclear arsenals.

• Helps prevent a new nuclear arms race.

Current Situation (2025)

• In 2023, Russia announced it was suspending participation, citing tensions with the U.S. over the Ukraine war. However, it has not formally withdrawn.

• The treaty is set to expire in February 2026, with uncertainty about whether it will be renewed, replaced, or collapse entirely.