Trump rejects Russia President's Putin proposal to extend nuclear treaty limits
Trump Rejects Nuclear Cap Extension Proposal of Russia
US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal from Russia President Vladimir Putin to temporarily continue limits on strategic nuclear weapons deployments after the last remaining bilateral arms control treaty expired, signalling a shift toward negotiating a broader replacement agreement.
New START treaty expiry and nuclear limits
The New START treaty, signed in 2010, officially expired on February 5, 2026, removing legally binding caps on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. The agreement had limited both countries to 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and allowed mutual inspections to maintain transparency. Russia proposed a one-year voluntary extension of these limits to allow further talks, but Washington declined to continue the arrangement.
Trump calls for new nuclear arms agreement for Russia
The United States said it prefers negotiating a “modernised” nuclear deal rather than extending the previous framework. The proposed replacement agreement is expected to address newer weapons technologies and potentially include China, whose nuclear stockpile is expanding but remains smaller than those of the US and Russia.
Global concern over arms race risk
With the treaty’s lapse, the US and Russia now operate without formal deployment limits for the first time in decades. Analysts and international organisations warn that the absence of restrictions could increase mistrust, military competition and the risk of miscalculation between nuclear powers. Diplomatic talks between the two countries are expected to continue despite tensions.
