The Current The last US-Russia nuclear treaty just expired
Feb 5, 2026
Matt Korda, a nuclear-arms tracker at the Federation of American Scientists, and Thomas Countryman, a former U.S. arms control diplomat, discuss the lapse of the last US-Russia treaty. They cover START history and how limits cut arsenals, escalating risks today, China’s role in talks, verification and short-term measures, and how more nuclear actors and politics raise accident and escalation dangers.
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Diplomacy Dramatically Reduced Warheads
- Nuclear arms control cut global warheads from ~70,000 to ~12,000 through diplomacy.
- Thomas Countryman says these reductions are a major diplomatic success that lowered existential risk.
Risk Of Nuclear Use Is Rising Again
- The current risk of nuclear use is the highest since 1962, according to Thomas Countryman.
- He cites deteriorating relations and lack of negotiation as key drivers of rising danger.
Restart Talks With Russia Before Broadening
- The U.S. should resume regular negotiations with Russia rather than demand immediate trilateral treaties.
- Thomas Countryman urges dialogue with China as a gradual discussion, not immediate negotiation.