The ending of the START treaty removes any caps on the world's two largest nuclear powers for the first time in more than 50 years.

16:15, Thu, Feb 5, 2026 Updated: 16:20, Thu, Feb 5, 2026

Putin and Trump

Russia and the US did not extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) pact (Image: Getty)

The possibility of nuclear armageddon is “more likely” following the end of a crucial pact between the United States and Russia, a former NATO commander has warned. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) — the last remaining nuclear weapons control agreement signed by the two powers — expired at midnight, sparking concerns of a new arms race.

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army officer who commanded NATO’s Rapid Reaction Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Battalion, said the current global landscape means everyone should be worried by the collapse of the deal, which was signed in 2010. He told the Express: “I think there is a reason to be concerned and the fact it’s not on the front of every newspaper and news channel is also to be a concern because there are other things that are perceived to be more important. The potential that the planet could be obliterated by nuclear weapons, and all the factors I’m talking about making it more of a likelihood, and not even getting front page coverage — the inference is that those people who could make a difference are focusing on other things.”

Nuclear missile in Red Square, Moscow

Only the US has more nuclear missiles than Russia (Image: Getty)

“At the moment, there are other crocodiles closer to [Sir Keir] Starmer's canoe and other leaders’ than the nuclear crocodile,” he warned.

Mr de Bretton-Gordon said he doesn’t believe the ending of START will lead to a new arms race between Washington and Moscow, suggesting this is already being fuelled by Beijing.

He added: “That's not the point, it's everything else that's happening that is making the possibility, and I say possibility rather than likelihood, of some sort of nuclear exchange more likely.”

The ending of the START treaty removes any caps on the world’s two largest nuclear powers for the first time in more than 50 years.

Vladimir Putin declared readiness to stick to the limits for another year if Washington followed suit, but Donald Trump had been noncommittal about extending it.

The US President has repeatedly indicated he would like to keep limits on nuclear weapons and involve China in arms control talks, according to a White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

START restricted both the US and Russia to no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads on no more than 700 missiles and bombers — deployed and ready for use.

It was originally supposed to expire in 2021 but was extended for five more years.

There have been concerns the expiration of the agreement could whip up global instability and increase the risk of nuclear conflict.

Mr de Bretton-Gordon said he doesn’t believe UK security has been weakened by the development.

“I don't think this makes us even more in the crosshairs than we were,” he said.

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Among those to voice concern was UN Secretary General António Guterres who said it "marks a grave moment for international peace and security".

He called on the US and Russia to return to negotiations "without delay" and strike a new deal.