Nuclear Weapons Without Limits?

Key Findings

Once the New START treaty expires, the United States and Russia will have no limits on the number of strategic nuclear weapons they can deploy.

Without constraints, the deployed nuclear forces of both countries could double.

Neither the United States nor Russia is in any condition to compete in a dangerous, unconstrained arms race. A new treaty is needed.

Once the New START treaty between the United States and Russia expires in February 2026, there will be no limits on the number of strategic nuclear weapons the two nations can deploy—a situation the world has not faced since 1972. To avoid a destructive and dangerous nuclear arms race, both countries should agree to honor the limitations that New START placed on their arsenals while a follow-on agreement is negotiated, which can take months or even years. Without such mutual constraints, the United States and Russia could field hundreds of additional nuclear weapons in a matter of weeks, and within a few years, their deployed nuclear forces could double.

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