Overview
- The last U.S.-Russia nuclear arms treaty is due to expire on February 5, removing legally binding limits that cap each side at 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and restrict deployed missiles and bombers.
- Dmitry Medvedev said the potential lapse should alarm the world and reiterated that Russia’s proposal to voluntarily observe current limits for one year remains available.
- Russian officials say they have received no formal U.S. response to the one-year offer, and President Donald Trump recently indicated he would let the accord expire in favor of pursuing a different agreement.
- Russia suspended its participation in 2023, halting on-site inspections and data exchanges that had underpinned verification for years.
- Experts warn that without legal constraints and verification, both sides could expand forces without transparency, increasing strategic uncertainty.