Extending New START Makes U.S. Nuclear Modernization Imperative

The United States has extended the flawed New START agreement with Russia for five years—receiving not a single reform for its agreement to extend. The New START extension does not equate to nuclear stability, and the U.S. should not expect it to moderate Russia’s aggressive behavior. Russia and China will continue to advance their nuclear forces as part of their strategies for implementing their respective revisionist agendas. The United States must not become lulled into a false sense of security offered by another five years of New START; instead, the Biden Administration, with Congress, must remain committed to ensuring the credibility of the U.S. nuclear deterrent and assurance of allies.