New START expires today as Trump weighs Putin’s nuclear extension offer
New START expires today as Trump weighs Putin extension offer
After midnight on February 5, 2026, a major safety net will disappear. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, will officially expire. This treaty is the last remaining nuclear arms control deal between the United States and Russia.
Once it ends, there will be no legal limits on US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons. This has not happened since the early 1970s. For over fifty years, treaties helped cap the size and reach of the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. Now, that era is over.
New START was signed during a time when both countries still talked, even when they disagreed. Today, US Russia relations are tense and unstable. Trust is low. Communication is weak. The treaty’s end reflects that breakdown.
Many experts see this moment as deeply dangerous. Without rules, both sides could build more nuclear weapons. They could deploy new systems faster. Inspections and data sharing will stop. That means less clarity and more guessing. Guessing during a crisis can lead to terrible mistakes.
Because of these risks, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has sounded a loud alarm. The group, known for tracking global dangers, moved its symbolic Doomsday Clock even closer to disaster. That is the closest it has ever been in its long history.
The Doomsday Clock is not a prediction. It is a warning. Midnight represents global catastrophe. The closer the hands move, the greater the danger. Being 85 seconds away sends a clear message.
Alexandra Bell, president and CEO of the Bulletin, spoke plainly about the situation. She said the risks of catastrophe are rising fast. Cooperation between nations is fading. Time is running out. She also said change is still possible, but only if leaders act quickly and with courage.
Each year, the Clock’s time is set by experts. The Science and Security Board studies global threats. They consult with a board that includes Nobel Prize winners. In 2026, their concerns were wide and serious.
Nuclear danger was at the top of the list. Growing tensions between major powers played a big role. So did the spread of new technologies. Artificial intelligence, while useful, can also increase risks if misused. Errors can spread faster. Decisions can be made too quickly.
Biological threats also weighed heavily. New diseases can spread across borders with ease. Climate change added more pressure. Extreme weather, food shortages, and mass movement of people can fuel conflict. All these threats stack on top of each other.
The Clock was last adjusted in January 2025. At that time, it was set at 89 seconds to midnight. Moving it forward again shows that conditions have worsened, not improved.
In its statement, the Bulletin listed many global dangers. Climate change remains severe. Biotechnology can be used for harm. Artificial intelligence may be misused in warfare or surveillance. But nuclear war remains one of the greatest fears.
Nuclear weapons can destroy cities in minutes. They can kill millions. Even a limited exchange could disrupt the global climate. Food supplies could collapse. The effects would touch every country, not just those at war.
With New START gone, there is no shared framework to slow this danger. There are no agreed limits. No routine checks. No steady talks. That silence is risky.
Some hope still remains. Russia has signaled it may accept an extension or a new deal. Former President Donald Trump has not made his position clear. Whether talks resume will shape the next chapter of global security.
For now, the world stands at a fragile moment. It is a reminder. Choices made now will decide how close we move to midnight.