Context

1. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) is a treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on measures for the further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms.

Details about the Treaty

1. It entered into force on 5 th February, 2011.
2. It is a successor to the START framework of 1991 (at the end of the Cold War) that limited both sides to 1,600 strategic delivery vehicles and 6,000 warheads.
3. The USA has been worried that extending New Start would negatively impact an arms deal with China and Russia.
4. It is concerned that China’s nuclear stockpile could be doubled if the New Start Treaty continued as is, without including China.
5. The New Start Treaty also suffered from verification inadequacies and that the U.S. intended to establish a new arms control regime which would include China.

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