New York, February 5: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding the expiration of the New START treaty, which limits nuclear weapons between the United States and Russia. He described this moment as a serious signal for international peace and security.
Guterres emphasized that for the first time in over fifty years, the world is entering an era without any legal and binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of Russia and the United States. Together, these two nations possess the majority of the world’s nuclear weapons.
The New START treaty, which is set to expire this Thursday, placed restrictions on the number of deployed nuclear weapons and their delivery systems for both countries.
During the Cold War and the years that followed, nuclear arms control between the U.S. and Russia played a crucial role in preventing major global crises. This framework provided stability and helped avert catastrophic consequences from miscalculations. Notably, it enabled both nations to reduce thousands of nuclear warheads from their arsenals.
According to Guterres, strategic arms control has enhanced security worldwide, particularly for the citizens of the U.S. and Russia.
He pointed out that the treaty’s expiration comes at a time when the threat of nuclear weapon use is at its highest in decades. “There could not be a worse time for this,” Guterres stated. “Yet, in this moment of uncertainty, we must seek hope. This is an opportunity to reset and create a suitable arms control framework for a rapidly changing environment.”
Guterres welcomed the acknowledgment from both countries’ presidents that the arms race destabilizes the world and that it is essential to halt it. The global community now expects Russia and the U.S. to take concrete steps, not just make statements.
He urged both nations to return to the negotiating table without delay and agree on a new framework that includes verifiable limits on nuclear weapons, reduces risks, and strengthens global security.
The New START treaty was implemented in 2011 and was the last major arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, following the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019.