• The New START treaty, which limited US and Russian nuclear arsenals, has expired, ending over 50 years of legally binding arms control.
• President Trump rejected Russia's proposal to extend the treaty, calling for a new nuclear agreement involving China.
• Experts warn that the lapse in arms control could lead to a new global arms race amidst growing geopolitical tensions.
• Russia expressed regret over the treaty's expiration but emphasized its commitment to nuclear stability.
• China’s officials have shown little interest in joining new arms negotiations despite concerns over their expanding nuclear arsenal.

The expiration of the New START treaty marks a significant turning point in nuclear arms control, leaving the United States and Russia without any legally binding agreement to limit their nuclear arsenals for the first time in over half a century. As Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, "We view this negatively and express our regret," emphasizing Russia's commitment to a responsible approach to nuclear stability even after the treaty’s end, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

US President Donald Trump has dismissed calls from Russia's President Vladimir Putin to extend the New START limits, stating that he prefers to negotiate a "new, improved, and modernized" arms treaty, which he suggests should include China, a position that has been met with skepticism from Beijing. Trump's remarks characterize the New START treaty as a "badly negotiated deal" that has been "grossly violated," according to ABC News and Channel News Asia.

Experts have voiced concerns that the lapse in the treaty could trigger a new arms race, urging both the US and Russia to maintain the limits established under New START informally, while also calling upon China to engage in arms control discussions. As noted by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “The risk of a nuclear weapon being used is the highest in decades,” a sentiment echoed by analysts worried about the ramifications of the treaty's expiration, according to Los Angeles Times and Anadolu Agency.

While both countries face increasing nuclear capabilities, particularly from China, there remains significant international apprehension about the direction of nuclear policy in the absence of a formal treaty. Trump's insistence on involving China in future negotiations faces firm rejection from Beijing, which argues that any discussions are premature given the vast disparities in nuclear arsenals, reported by South China Morning Post and further supported by statements from Chinese officials highlighting the asymmetry in nuclear capabilities, according to Al Jazeera.