Trump comments on extending New START treaty
US President Donald Trump has dismissed the New START nuclear reduction treaty between Moscow and Washington as a “badly negotiated deal,” calling instead for US nuclear experts to begin work on a completely new agreement.
The strategic arms control agreement officially expired on February 5, sparking concerns in Moscow and at the UN. Axios reported the same day that US and Russian officials agreed to work on “updating” the agreement on the sidelines of the Ukraine peace talks in Abu Dhabi.
“Rather than extend ‘NEW START’ … we should have our Nuclear Experts work on a new, improved, and modernized Treaty that can last long into the future,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday, claiming the agreement was being “grossly violated.”
Shortly after Trump’s post, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told journalists that the US plans to discuss a new treaty with Russia. She also denied that Moscow and Washington had reached any temporary agreements on abiding by the provisions of the expired treaty.
Signed in 2010, the treaty capped the number of strategic nuclear warheads and launchers that could be deployed and established monitoring mechanisms for both Russian and American arsenals. It was initially set to expire in 2021 but was extended for five years at the time.
Moscow suspended the verification mechanisms of the treaty in 2023, citing Ukrainian strikes on elements of Russia’s nuclear deterrence and accusing the West of actively being involved. Yet, there have been no reports on any side violating the limitations set in the treaty.
Earlier on Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had suggested adhering to the treaty’s provisions for another year but that the initiative had “remained unanswered.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Russia and the US to negotiate a successor framework, warning about the “highest” risk of a nuclear conflict in decades.
Trump previously stated that he wanted a “better” agreement that includes China. On Thursday, Peskov said that China considers joining the talks on a new treaty “pointless” since its nuclear arsenal is incompatible with that of Russia and the US. “We respect this position,” he added.
