Putin’s One-Year Extension on New START: A Strategic Gamble Amid Rising Global Risks

In a move that demands close scrutiny, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow’s intention to adhere to the nuclear arms limits under the New START Treaty for one more year after it expires in February 2026. While this may appear at first glance as a gesture of restraint, it raises serious questions about Russia's broader strategic intentions and how Washington should respond to safeguard American national security. Is This Extension a Step Toward Stability or a Tactical Ploy? Putin framed the expiration of the last major nuclear arms control pact between Russia and the United States as a destabilizing event...