Russia warns nuclear proliferation risks grow as U.S. remains silent on New START

MOSCOW — Russia has yet to receive a formal response from the United States regarding a proposal to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), Moscow officials said.

The Kremlin also issued a warning regarding the heightened risk of global nuclear proliferation. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, cautioned that international political instability could lead to an expansion of the "nuclear club," suggesting more nations may seek to acquire nuclear weapons.

The developments come as the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the two superpowers nears its expiration. The potential end of the treaty has raised international concerns of a new global arms race operating without any established oversight mechanisms.

The looming dissolution of the New START treaty represents more than a mere diplomatic breakdown; it signals the definitive end of the post-Cold War era of nuclear arms control. Washington’s current reticence likely stems from a complex mix of internal policy fractures, a hardening post-election posture, and a calculated attempt to exert strategic leverage over Moscow amid the protracted conflict in Ukraine.

Regardless of the underlying motivation, the consequence remains the same: the world is entering an era of unconstrained arms competition. In the absence of established verification protocols and stockpile caps, both the United States and Russia now possess the latitude to modernize and expand their strategic arsenals without oversight.

Former President Dmitry Medvedev’s warnings regarding an expanding “nuclear club” are far from hollow rhetoric. As the credibility of the great powers' security umbrellas erodes, middle-tier states may increasingly view the development of indigenous nuclear deterrents as a geopolitical necessity for self-preservation. This creates a dangerous proliferation domino effect, particularly within volatile theaters such as the Middle East and East Asia. Ultimately, the collapse of New START will force a radical recalibration of the global security architecture, compelling nations to rethink their alliances and defense postures in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable international environment.