Relevance: GS II (International Relations) & GS III (Security) | Source: The Hindu / Reuters
1. The Context: A Historic Expiry
On February 5, 2026, the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) officially expired.
- Significance: For the first time since 1972, there is no legally binding limit on the number of nuclear weapons the USA and Russia can deploy.
- The Void: This marks the end of the post-Cold War arms control architecture, leaving the world’s two largest nuclear powers (holding ~90% of global warheads) without mutual inspections.
2. What Was New START? (2010-2026)
Signed in Prague (2010), it was the last surviving bilateral treaty between the US and Russia.
- The Cap: It limited both sides to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and 700 deployed missiles/bombers.
- Transparency: It mandated 18 on-site inspections per year and data exchanges to prevent misunderstandings.
- Why it Collapsed: The Ukraine conflict caused a geopolitical fracture. Russia suspended participation, arguing it couldn’t allow US inspectors while the West aimed for its “strategic defeat.” Moscow also demanded that France and UK (NATO nuclear powers) be counted in future deals.
3. The “China Factor” & New Tech
- The China Problem: The US argues that any future treaty is pointless without China, whose nuclear arsenal is rapidly expanding. China refuses to join, citing its smaller arsenal compared to the giants.
- New Weapons: The treaty failed to cover Russia’s new “invincible” systems like:
- Sarmat: A heavy Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
- Poseidon: A nuclear-powered underwater drone.
- Avangard: A hypersonic glide vehicle.
UPSC Value Box
| Concept / Term | Relevance for Prelims |
| P5 Group | Refers to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (US, Russia, China, UK, France). They are the recognized “Nuclear Weapon States” under the NPT. |
| Sarmat & Poseidon | Advanced Russian strategic delivery systems. Sarmat is a liquid-fueled heavy ICBM (often called “Satan II”). Poseidon is an autonomous, nuclear-armed underwater torpedo. |
| Credible Minimum Deterrence | India’s nuclear doctrine. It implies maintaining just enough nuclear forces to deter an attack, without seeking parity (equal numbers) with adversaries like China. |
Q. With reference to the “New START” treaty, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It was a multilateral agreement signed between the P5 countries to reduce nuclear warheads.
- It placed a cap on the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 for the signatories.
- The treaty recently expired in February 2026 without a successor agreement.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (b)
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