U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sign the New START Treaty

The New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia that entered into force on February 5, 2011. It aims to limit and reduce the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems (such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and heavy bombers) that each country can possess. Specifically, the treaty caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550 and limits deployed missiles and bombers to 700, with an additional limit of 800 on deployed and non-deployed launchers. It includes a robust verification regime, involving on-site inspections, data exchanges, and notifications, designed to ensure transparency and compliance. Originally set to expire in 2021, it was extended for five years until 2026 under the Biden administration. Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, the New START Treaty remains a critical framework for maintaining nuclear stability and strategic predictability between the two largest nuclear powers in the world.