Note: As of Jan. 22, 2026, the US has not responded to the Kremlin’s Sept. 22 proposal for both sides to honor New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) limits on deployed nuclear weapons for one additional year. The White House has remained silent on the matter as it focuses more on taking over Greenland and building a new ballroom. This article assumes New START expired on Feb. 5, 2026, outlines the implications, and shares how WILPF members can work to prevent the expansion of the US nuclear arsenal.
The New START Treaty: Why It Mattered
New START was the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the US and Russia. It limited both countries to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed launchers, with verification measures to ensure compliance. Without a successor, there will be no legally binding caps on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in more than 50 years, significantly increasing the risk of a costly and dangerous arms race. Arms control agreements reduce the chance of miscalculation by providing verification and transparency measures that help prevent misunderstandings from escalating into conflict and reduce reliance on worst-case strategic planning.
China is not part of New START and has never participated in an agreement to limit strategic nuclear arms. The US Department of Defense estimates China’s nuclear warhead stockpile at approximately 600 warheads—nearly triple its size in 2020—and projects China will reach 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.
President Trump initially commented in October 2025 that the Kremlin’s proposal sounded “like a good idea.” However, in a New York Times interview published on Jan. 8, 2026, he stated that “[i]f [the treaty] expires, it expires. … We’ll just do a better agreement,” which experts believe may include China.
We should expect serious calls from the nuclear weapons establishment to begin uploading additional warheads on US sea-based and land-based missiles after New START expires.
How WILPF Can Call for Peace as New START Expires
Urge your representative and senators to speak out publicly in support of international nuclear arms control agreements and to cosponsor H.Res.100 and S.Res.61. These resolutions call for urgent negotiations to replace the New START treaty, continued compliance with established limits, and separate engagement in nuclear diplomacy with China.
When you write to your representatives, tell them about a newly released YouGov poll of 1,000 registered voters in which an overwhelming majority of Americans (91%) say the US should negotiate a new agreement with Russia to either maintain current limits on nuclear weapons or further reduce both countries’ arsenals. Additionally, 72% of registered voters believe that removing all limits on US and Russian nuclear arsenals would make the US less secure.
Tell your representatives to read the letter titled “Support Efforts to Prevent a New Nuclear Arms Race and Renewed Nuclear Testing After New START,” which they received on Feb. 2 from the Halt and Reverse a New Arms Race coalition and which WILPF US has signed.
This Google doc has additional talking points you can use in your letters to Congress.
The nuclear weapons establishment will recommend expanding the modernization program by procuring more next-generation B-21 bombers and Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines, while planning to deploy more Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). These very expensive programs will take funding away from civilian needs, all the more reason to ask your reps to co-sponsor HR 1888: Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2025. Learn more about HR 1888.
WILPF US Condemns the Kidnapping of Venezuelan President
In our December newsletter article, we described the US government’s threats to Venezuela. When our military attacked cities in Venezuela and kidnapped its president and first lady on Jan. 3, our DISARM Committee worked with the Cuba and Bolivarian Alliance Committee to issue a statement. Please download it, complete the requested actions, and share it with your networks.
Thank you for taking action to prevent a nuclear arms race and stand with the people of Venezuela.
Join the DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee
We welcome new members to the DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee! We meet by Zoom on the second and last Sundays of each month at 4:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. ET. To receive the Zoom link and request to join the DISARM listserv, write to disarmchair@wilpfus.org.
