42Received 17.06.2025. Revised 24.06.2025. Accepted 31.07.2025.
Abstract. The START Treaty‑2010 expires in February 2026. This Treaty cannot be extended in its current form. In this regard, the question arises – how the situation will develop in the strategic area, in relations between Russia and the United States, when this Treaty expires? Additional efforts are needed to prevent the process of corrosion in the sphere of strategic stability. It is important to prevent further aggravation of relations not only between nuclear-armed countries, thereby preventing the growing threat of nuclear conflict, but also in the world as a whole. The development of the U.S. national missile defense system under the “Golden Dome” program, work under the “Prompt Global Strike” concept add difficulties to the potential action to bring the international security situation out of the current crisis. The vacuum threatening the world in matters of nuclear arms control can increase negative trends both around and within the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. The upcoming NPT Review Conference (2026) will sharply raise the issue of countries’ fulfillment of obligations, primarily under Article VI of this Treaty. Security can be strengthened not only through building up defense capabilities, but also through arms control mechanisms. More international efforts needed to engage the Republic of China, France and Great Britain in multilateral negotiations on nuclear arms control with the participation of Russia and the United States. It is important that the role of Moscow and Washington in this process will be key. At the same time, attention is required to work out the option of Russian-American agreements to replace the START Treaty‑2010. Success in the field of nuclear arms control will improve international security of each individual state.
Keywords: START Treaty‑2010, nuclear arms control, nuclear-armed countries in accordance with the NPT, nuclear conflict, negotiations on nuclear arms, missile defense, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear test ban, strategic stability, national security
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