New START Treaty

• 07 Oct 2025

Source: ET

Why in News? 

Russia has expressed a positive response to the U.S. President’s remarks endorsing its proposal to extend adherence to the New START Treaty’s nuclear arms limitations for an additional year.  

• The development comes against the backdrop of Russia’s 2023 decision to suspend its participation in the treaty, which remains the last major arms control framework between Moscow and Washington.

What is the New START Treaty? 

• About: START stands for “Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.” The original START-I was signed between the US and USSR in 1991 and came into force in 1994. 
  • It was replaced by the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) and later the New START Treaty (Signed in 2010, entered into force in 2011, initially valid till 2021, and extended until 2026). 
  • It limits long-range weapons designed to influence the outcome of a war, targeting centers of power, command facilities, or critical infrastructure and ensures verifiable reductions in strategic arms. 
    • Russia and the US hold 87% of the world’s nuclear warheads (5,459 and 5,177 respectively), enough for multiple global destructions. New START aimed to slow the arms race, and its suspension leaves a dangerous gap. 
• Arms Limitations under the New START: The treaty set verifiable limits for the US and Russia: 700 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and bombers, 1,550 nuclear warheads, and 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers and bombers. 
• Compliance Mechanism: Verification procedures include on-site inspections by US and Russian inspection teams, data sharing, notifications, and the Bilateral Consultative Commission (BCC). 
• Key Limitations: 
  • While the New START Treaty imposes verifiable limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons, it does not cover non-deployed strategic or non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons. This exclusion leaves a significant portion of both nations’ arsenals outside the scope of arms control. 
  • Russia cites US projects like space-based Golden Dome interceptors and views its new intermediate-range missiles as strategic threats, while the US is concerned about Russia’s Kinzhal missiles and Avangard hypersonic glide vehicles. 

Major Global Initiatives Related to Nuclear Weapons Management 

• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), 1968: Aims to prevent nuclear weapons spread, promote disarmament, and support peaceful nuclear energy use; recognizes five nuclear-weapon states (NWS): US, Russia, UK, France, China. 
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1996: Prohibits all nuclear explosions for testing purposes. (not yet entered into force). 
• Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), 2017: Bans the use, possession, testing, and transfer of nuclear weapons under international law.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

1. What is the New START Treaty? 
The New START Treaty is a strategic arms control agreement between the US and Russia, signed in 2010 and enforced in 2011, limiting deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, bombers, and nuclear warheads to ensure verifiable reductions in strategic arms. 

2. What are the key limitations under the New START Treaty? 
The treaty limits 700 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and bombers, 1,550 nuclear warheads, and 800 deployed/non-deployed launchers and bombers, verified through inspections, data sharing, and the Bilateral Consultative Commission. 

3. Why was the New START Treaty considered significant for global security? 
It was significant as the last major treaty ensuring verifiable reductions and transparency between the two nations holding 87% of global nuclear arsenals, thereby slowing the arms race and preventing miscalculation. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Q. The “New START” treaty was in the news. What is this treaty? (2011)

(a) It is a bilateral strategic nuclear arms reduction treaty between the USA and the Russian Federation. 

(b) It is a multilateral energy security cooperation treaty among the members of the East Asia Summit. 

(c) It is a treaty between the Russian Federation and the European Union for energy security cooperation. 

(d) It is a multilateral cooperation treaty among the BRICS countries for the promotion of trade 

Ans: (a)