Fears of new arms race as US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty expires

The expiration of the New START treaty between the US and Russia has sparked concerns over a potential new arms race. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the treaty's end as "a grave moment for international peace and security," urging both nations to negotiate a successor. The New START treaty had limited both countries to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and included transparency measures.

Experts warn that without binding limits, the risk of nuclear proliferation increases, and both nations are already modernizing their arsenals. Meanwhile, Russia and the US seem hesitant to pursue a new agreement, indicating an escalating threat level in global security.