Key Points:
- UN chief urges US and Russia to swiftly negotiate a new nuclear deal
- Expiry of New START removes binding limits on major nuclear arsenals
- Arms control renewal seen as vital for global peace and security
UNITED NATIONS, United States: The United Nations has called for renewed leadership and cooperation on nuclear arms control, as the landmark New START treaty between the United States and Russia reaches its expiration.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the moment as a critical opportunity for diplomacy, urging both nations to move quickly toward a new agreement that reinforces global peace and security.
Speaking from UN headquarters in New York, Guterres emphasized the importance of maintaining binding limits on the world’s largest nuclear arsenals.
The expiration of New START on Thursday formally lifts long-standing restrictions on nuclear weapons held by Washington and Moscow, marking a pivotal moment in international security efforts.
“For the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the Russian Federation and the United States of America,” Guterres said in a statement, underscoring the significance of the transition, according to AFP.
He highlighted the positive legacy of New START and earlier arms control agreements, noting that they have “drastically improved the security of all peoples” by reducing risks and building transparency between major powers.
According to the UN chief, these frameworks have played a vital role in preventing escalation and fostering dialogue even during periods of tension. Guterres cautioned that the end of the treaty comes at a sensitive time, as global risks remain elevated.
“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,” he said, while stressing that proactive diplomacy can still reverse this trajectory.
Encouragingly, the UN secretary-general called on both Washington and Moscow to see this moment as a chance to reengage. He urged the two countries “to return to the negotiating table without delay and to agree upon a successor framework” that reflects current realities while preserving the core principles of arms control.
The United States and Russia together possess more than 80 percent of the world’s nuclear warheads, making their cooperation central to global stability. Although several arms control agreements have lapsed over time, New START has remained a cornerstone since it was first signed in 2010.
Under the treaty, both sides agreed to cap their deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 each—nearly 30 percent fewer than limits set under a previous 2002 agreement.
The treaty also introduced on-site inspections to enhance transparency and trust, though these inspections were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic and have yet to resume.
As the treaty era closes, the United Nations’ message is one of cautious optimism: with renewed commitment and dialogue, the world’s leading nuclear powers still have an opportunity to strengthen safeguards and advance international peace.
