Less Than 50 Days Before New START Treaty Expires! Contact Your Congressional Members to Stop A New U.S. – Russia Arms Race

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or the New START Agreement, is set to expire on Thursday, February 5^th, 2026 – in less than 50 days.  The New START Agreement is the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation.

It was signed in 2010.  It limits the number of strategic long-term nuclear warheads and launchers that the United States and Russia can deploy.

And, without any New START Agreement, there would be no limits on United States and Russian nuclear weapons stockpiles.

In September, President Putin offered a one-year extension; President Trump, unfortunately, has not responded in an official manner. https://nuclearactive.org/putin-proposed-to-extend-new-start-treaty-for-one-year-trump-has-not-formerly-responded/

This is where you come in.  The Treaty must be extended for at least one year.  Engage your social media contacts, make calls and texts to friends, family and talk shows, pray, write letters to the editor.  Contact your Congressional members and urge them to do everything they can to extend the New START Agreement. The U.S. Capitol Switchboard Line is (202) 224-3121.

Indeed, we are in dark times. Under the existing Treaty, Russia and the United States have roughly 10,000 nuclear weapons, or 87 percent of the global inventory.  According to the Federation of American Scientists, China possesses about 600 warheads.

The Treaty sets caps on the numbers of strategic nuclear warheads, land- and submarine-based missiles, and delivery vehicles that the United States and Russia may deploy in the event of nuclear war. In doing so, the Treaty increases and strengthens verification measures, transparency, encourages increased communication, and reduces the risk of miscalculation.

This week Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (Tri-Valley CARES) https://trivalleycares.org/,  Friends Committee on National Legislation https://www.fcnl.org , Arms Control Association https://www.armscontrol.org/ , and numerous partner groups across the country are mobilizing to urge Members of Congress to act now to ensure that the limits on nuclear weapons in the New START Agreement do not expire. Talking points are available on Tri-Valley CARES website at https://trivalleycares.org/2025/national-call-in-day-december-17th-to-stop-new-u-s-russia-arms-race Make your calls today!

Reports from congressional offices tell us that when they receive a sustained number of phone calls in a short time, it helps to raise issues on legislators’ priority lists.  Always mention that you are a constituent of the legislator you are calling and remind them that diplomacy is far superior to a dangerous new arms race and should be vigorously pursued.

A successor to the New START Agreement can, and should, serve as a stepping-stone to further reductions in the nuclear weapons stockpiles of both countries and hold open the door to future negotiations.

Peace is Possible.

1. Friday, December 19th from noon to 1 pm – Join the nuclear disarmament community at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval in Santa Fe for the weekly peaceful protest in support of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Join with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, New Mexico Peace Fest, Pax Christi and others. Bring your flags, signs and banners.

2. Watch A House of Dynamite on Netflix. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has published a resource guide to viewing “A House of Dynamite.”  https://thebulletin.org/2025/10/a-bulletin-resource-guide-to-viewing-a-house-of-dynamite/

3. Saturday, December 20^th at 2 pm on the Santa Fe Plaza – The Santa Fe Raging Grannies invite you to sing along with them on your favorite holiday “carols” turned into protest songs. Join us, won’t you?

 Sing along to songs like:

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fascism

Auld Lang Syne for Freedom

Walking in a Nuclear Wasteland

I’m Dreaming of a Kind Christmas … and many more.

4. SAVE THE DATES – April 4^th – 11^th, 2026: Shut Down Drone Warfare at Alamogordo and Holloman AFB. For more information, email  nmvetsforpeace@gmail.com

5. If you appreciate our work, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution before the end of the year. We’re on Paypal (see button on top right of page) or mail your contribution to:  CCNS, POB 31147, Santa Fe, NM  87594-1147. Venmo coming soon! Thank you!!!

Tags: Arms Control Association, Federal of American Scientists, Friends Committee on National Legislation, New START, New START Agreement, New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, Peace is Possible, President Donald Trump, President Vladimir Putin, Tri Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment, Tri-Valley CARES