New START: Viable framework for modernization or past tense?

Abstract

The United States and Russia must take the decision to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty for five years by February, 2021 or the agreement will expire. Extension of New START will temporarily freeze the existing status quo as between the two leading nuclear powers and create breathing space for further and more extensive talks on a number of matters. These other issues could include: non-strategic nuclear forces; missile defenses; long-range conventional strike and hypersonic weapons; space arms control; and, the possibility of bringing China into future nuclear arms control discussions. Going forward, both the U.S. and Russia will have to balance their plans for nuclear modernization against the desire for some bilateral restraints made possible by arms control.