New START's End Ignites Unchecked Arms Race in 2026

The February 2026 expiration of New START dismantles the last pillar of post-Cold War arms control, unleashing nuclear and tech arms races amid U.S.-Russia-China rivalry. Trump's transactional diplomacy fragments alliances, elevates Gulf mediators, and freezes Ukraine, signaling a multipolar era of calculated brinkmanship. Expert models forecast 20-30% higher conflict risks in flashpoints like Eastern Europe and the South China Sea.