The last remaining nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia, known as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, expired at midnight on Thursday, removing all restrictions on the two countries' nuclear arsenals. The end of the agreement has sparked fears of a new arms race, with Russian officials issuing stark warnings about their nation's destructive capabilities and experts cautioning that the world is closer to a nuclear crisis than ever before. The treaty had previously limited both sides to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads and set strict caps on delivery systems, while also enabling mutual inspections and data sharing for transparency.

With no successor deal in place and formal talks stalled, both nations are now free to expand their nuclear stockpiles unchecked. Tensions have risen as Russia blames the United States for the treaty's demise, while Washington insists any future agreement must include restrictions on China, which is rapidly growing its own nuclear arsenal. Researchers estimate that the United States and Russia together hold 86 percent of the world's nuclear weapons, and recent reports suggest both countries had already exceeded treaty limits prior to its expiration.

The collapse of New START marks a significant setback for global nuclear arms control, raising the risk of increased proliferation and instability. Experts warn that while the effects may not be immediate, the absence of binding limits and transparency could lead to dangerous escalations in the years ahead.