US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Deadline: World Faces Arms Race Threat

• The New START nuclear treaty between the U.S. and Russia expires on February 5, with no new agreement in sight due to the Ukraine war.
• Failure to renew could trigger a new nuclear arms race between the two superpowers, increasing global instability and the risk of accidental mishaps.
• Russian President Putin proposed a 12-month extension of New START limits, but U.S. President Trump has not formally responded, with experts divided.
• U.S. experts fear accepting Putin's proposal could allow Russia to develop new weapons and hinder efforts to include China in future arms control talks.
• Russia and the U.S. possess approximately 87% of the world's nuclear warheads; China's arsenal is rapidly growing, potentially reaching 1,000 by 2030.

Why It Matters: Failure to renew the US-Russia nuclear treaty by Feb 5 risks a dangerous global arms race.