Washington, February 06 (QNA) - US President Donald Trump has called for negotiations on a "new, improved, and modernized" nuclear arms control agreement with Russia following the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) -- the last legally binding nuclear arms control pact between the United States and Russia.

New START, signed in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011, capped deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems for both countries. It was the final remaining bilateral agreement limiting the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals. The treaty officially expired on 5 February 2026 after it could not be extended further under its terms.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said that instead of extending New START, the United States should task its nuclear experts with drafting a modernized successor treaty that can endure future security challenges. The president criticized the original agreement as poorly negotiated and suggested that any future deal should be broad in scope and inclusive of contemporary realities.

Trump has also previously stated that any new arms control framework should potentially include other nuclear powers, such as China, to reflect the current global nuclear landscape -- although Beijing has rejected participation in such talks given its smaller arsenal.

The treaty's expiration has reignited international concern over nuclear proliferation and strategic stability. The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the lapse as a "grave moment" for global peace and security, urging both Washington and Moscow to urgently negotiate a successor agreement to reduce nuclear risks.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin reiterated that Russia will continue to act responsibly as a nuclear power, even as the treaty has lapsed, expressing regret over the end of New START and signaling continued openness to dialogue with the United States under constructive conditions.

Analysts warn that without a replacement for New START, the US and Russia will be operating without binding limits on their strategic nuclear forces for the first time in decades, heightening risks of miscalculation and a renewed arms buildup. (QNA)