The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will expire on February 5, 2021. If that happens, there will be no legal restraints on the world’s two biggest nuclear arsenals for the first time in nearly 50 years.
The United States and Russia can choose to extend the treaty by up to five years, through a simple agreement between the heads of state.
While Russia has said it is interested in a clean extension of New START, the Trump administration has yet to commit, citing a desire to have more control over the nuclear arsenals of both Russia and China. Broader arms control agreements are a worthy goal, but not at the expense of a critically important treaty.
America’s allies across Europe and around the world agree. They are resolute: global security depends on the extension of New START.
The infographic below shows where allies stand on New START. You can also download this information, with citations, as a spreadsheet.
