September 23, 2025

Get ready for a dosed-up drama in world politics! Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin, has thrown a big offer to the United States — a one-year extension of the famous New START treaty. Why? To stop an arms race that could turn the whole globe into a fireworks festival of missiles! What’s the fuss about New START? This treaty was signed back in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev. It puts a cap on the number of powerful strategic nuclear warheads and the long-range missiles and bombers that carry them. Both countries — Russia and the US — can only have 1,550 warheads and 700 missile delivery vehicles each. These weapons are designed to hit crucial military, economic, and political targets. The treaty came alive in 2011 and got a five-year extension in 2021 after Joe Biden became US President. But things heated up in 2023 when Putin said Russia would suspend its participation, although the country promised to stick to the warhead limits. Now, the treaty will expire on February 5 next year, and guess what? Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the two nuclear giants haven’t talked about what happens next. Experts warn that if the deal isn’t extended or replaced, both might break the treaty limits. So, who’s got the biggest nuclear stash? Russia tops with 4,309 warheads, the US follows with 3,700, and China is far behind with about 600 warheads. Putin recently said that Russia is ready to keep following the New START rules for one more year "to avoid provoking a further strategic arms race and to ensure an acceptable level of predictability and restraint" — but only if the US agrees to the same. On the other side, former US President Donald Trump revealed his stance. In July, he said he wanted to keep the New START limits, calling it "not an agreement you want expiring" and warned that ending the deal could create a "big problem." By August, Trump added that China should also join arms control talks aiming for "denuclearization." However, China quickly said it was "unreasonable and unrealistic" for it to join since it holds far fewer nuclear weapons than the US and Russia. But wait, there’s a twist! Putin mentioned his worries about US missile defense plans — specifically Trump’s Golden Dome project planned to block threats from Russia and China. Putin warned, "The practical implementation of such destabilising actions could nullify our efforts to maintain the status quo in the field of START. We will respond accordingly." Trump, meanwhile, earlier picked a $175-billion design for this Golden Dome, which will include hundreds of satellites scanning the skies for incoming missiles. Who benefits if the New START extension happens? Both sides could gain a breather to negotiate a new treaty without rushing into an expensive arms race. After a tense summit in Alaska failed, this move might be the perfect way for Putin and Trump to show the world some calm and cooler heads. For Putin, this extension is a chance to shine as a responsible world leader — especially when critics say he’s dragging his feet on ending the Ukraine war. It also lets Russia flaunt its nuclear strength, an area where it holds an edge over the US. With the treaty clock ticking, the big question remains: will Washington agree to Putin’s offer and keep the nuclear peace dance going for another year, or will the world edge closer to a new arms showdown?

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Tags: New start treaty, Vladimir putin, Donald trump, Nuclear arms, Russia-us relations, Arms control,