“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity
Feb 04, 2026
LLAW’s Nuclear World News’ Image and Lead Story for Today . . .
From the B B C :
The last nuclear weapons control treaty between the US and Russia is due to expire on Thursday, raising fears of a new arms race.
The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as “New START” and signed in 2010 was one of a handful of agreements designed to help prevent a catastrophic nuclear war.
The treaty capped the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads for each party to 1,550. It also established some transparency including data transfer, notifications and on site inspections.
The treaty’s expiry effectively marks an end to the arms control co-operation between Washington and Moscow that helped bring an end to the Cold War.
On Wednesday, Pope Leo urged the US and Russia to renew the treaty, saying the current world situation required “calls for doing everything possible to avert a new arms race”.
The original Start treaty – signed in 1991 by the US and the Soviet Union – barred each of the two signatories from deploying more than 6,000 nuclear warheads.
It was succeeded by New Start signed in 2010 in Prague by the US and Russia, the successor state to the dissolved Soviet Union.
Although Russia suspended the treaty three years ago as tensions grew over the Ukraine war, both countries were still thought to be abiding by the treaty.
The agreement prevented the uncontrolled build-up of nuclear weapons and provided the two countries with the largest nuclear arsenals with transparency measures to avoid misjudging each other’s intentions.
Its expiry follows a worrying pattern. Other long-standing arms control treaties have already fallen by the wayside.
They include:
- The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement, which largely eliminated the deployment of shorter-range nuclear weapons within Europe
- The Open Skies Treaty, which allowed signatories, including the US and Russia, to fly unarmed reconnaissance flights over each other’s territory to monitor military forces
- The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, which limited the numbers of tanks, troops and artillery systems both Russia and Nato forces could deploy within Europe
Britain’s former head of the armed forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin has warned that the architecture and frameworks that helped keep the world safe “now risks unravelling”.
In a speech last year he described the collapse of these key arms control treaties as “one of the most dangerous aspects of our current global security”, along with “the increasing prominence of nuclear weapons”.
Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev, who as the then president signed the New Start treaty in 2010, said its expiration should “alarm everyone”. This is a sobering comment from a politician whose recent rhetoric has included nuclear threats.
On Wednesday, a senior adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin said he intended to “act in a measured manner and responsibly” if the treaty expired.
Later in the day, the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that “in the current circumstances, we assume that the parties to the New START are no longer bound by any obligations or symmetrical declarations in the context of the Treaty, including its core provisions, and are in principle free to choose their next steps.
“In doing so the Russian Federation intends to act responsibly and in a balanced manner,” the statement said, adding that Moscow “remains ready to take decisive military-technical measures to counter potential additional threats to the national security”.
US President Donald Trump has sounded less concerned. Last month, he told the New York Times: “If it expires, it expires… We’ll just do a better agreement”.
Washington believes that any future arms control treaty should also include China, which has been building up its nuclear arsenal.
Meanwhile, Russia has long argued that any future arms control treaty should include France and the UK – Europe’s nuclear powers.
Darya Dolzikova, a senior Research Fellow with the UK-based RUSI’s Proliferation and Nuclear Policy Programme, said the expiration of New Start was “concerning, because there are drivers on both sides to expand their strategic capabilities”.
Both the US and Russia are currently modernising their nuclear forces and increasing their strategic capabilities. A new arms race is already under way.
Dolzikova said that for Russia “there appears to be some concerns about their ability to penetrate US air defences”. This has only increased with Trump’s plans to build a “Golden Dome” to protect North America from long-range weapons.
But Russia has also been developing new weapons designed to overcome air defences. They include Poseidon – a new intercontinental, nuclear armed and nuclear powered undersea autonomous torpedo, and also Burevestnik – a nuclear armed and powered cruise missile.
The US, Russia and China are all developing long-range hypersonic missiles which can manoeuvre at speeds of more than 4,000 mph (6,437kmh), and are much harder to shoot down.
Dolzikova said those expanding military capabilities would “only make it harder” to reach a new arms control treaty.
This is along with what she called the “growing salience of nuclear weapons”. More, not fewer, countries appear to want them as a deterrent.
Nor does the US or Russia appear to be in a rush to sign a new arms control treaty.
The subject was on the agenda when Russian President Vladimir Putin met Trump in Alaska last year – but nothing happened.
A new deal is still possible – but the expiry of the New Start signals a more volatile, dangerous era.
Also extremely important . . .
Trump directs nuclear weapons testing to resume for first time in over 30 years
Note: See my thoughts directly below in the now re-opened with new and more concern and a larger “footprint” . . . (Comments are appreciated and welcome . . .
LLAW’s Thoughts, Concerns, and Fears about Today’s Nuclear World and Beyond . . .
I am putting my “somewhat improved vision” behind me now as the majority of the entire world can no longer remain blind to what seems to be rapidly advancing in the global worries about all-out nuclear war eventually and soon to a global war theatre near you . . .
I believe that Trump, as an attempt at his last act as the U.S. President wants to unleash his version of WWIII for a “goodbye” gift to us all before he is removed from office. I hope I am wrong and/or that he will be controlled and stopped before even the rancid unmistakable smell of it begins, a few which are already in the air . . .
First is the nuclear situation between Iran and Trump (not the U.S.) that once again rapidly accelerating from Trump’s deception about an agreement from Iran to accept — which by the way, was never even defined because Trump deliberately interfered with every scheduled for a mutual agreement. It was not Iran who caused the failures; it was Trump’s ridiculous alteration of the rules just before every meeting. The first of these agreements was proposed by Trump in April of this year, but only a 1st meeting with underlings was held. and no following meetings were held and there was no developed via his own cancellation, and it was all downhill from there. Now Iran says they are agreeing to try again. This is a very generous offer, and is obviously an attempt to temper and avoid nuclear war. But is Trump anywhere near in agreement.to begin new negotiations? I don’t see it, and he has increased military presence as close as he can get them to Iran. So it is that we are back to April (at best) where Iran is concerned, and as point4ed out that didn’t go well because of Trump.
And now there is the last Russia/United States nuclear weapons agreement between the two nations that expires this week as described and discussed in the above BBC article(s) that could easily lead to more treachery from Trump if he is allowed to negotiate any potential agreements with a new “
Trump is on the verge of being forced out of office for “All kinds” of reasons, and the negative burdens upon him go far further than just his so-called “Presidency”, which is nothing more than a self-indulging concoction from his own deviant mind, which is no different than what he seems to think in his depravity of the whole world and its human population means nothing at all other than “HIMSELF!
I firmly believe that Trump must not be allowed to exercise any segments of his own “free reign” as president, and he must be closely supervised and controlled by all authorities in all governmental departments from today forward until he is officially permanently removed from office. ~llaw
LLAW’s Nuclear World News Today . . .
About Today’s Nuclear News, Files, Categories, and How it Works . . .
There are 7 categories, including a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcano and caldera activity around the world that also play an important role in the survival of human and other life.
The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). If there was no news from a Category today, the Category will not appear. The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
- All Things Nuclear
- Nuclear Power
- Nuclear Power Emergencies
- Nuclear War Threats
- Nuclear War
- Yellowstone Caldera
- IAEA News (Friday’s only)
A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
LLAW’s Nuclear World News, Wednesday, 02/04/2026
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Iran & US Set to Resume Nuclear Talks With Trump’s “Armada” Near-by – YouTube
YouTube
… all leading platforms. Subscribe to Firstpost … Trump Warns of “Bad Things“ if Iran Nuclear Talks Fail | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G.
‘US Must Pay’: Iran Threatens To ‘Walk Away’ From Nuclear Talks – YouTube
YouTube
Iran has drawn firm nuclear red lines ahead of high-stakes talks with the United States, rejecting … about whether diplomacy will proceed at all.
NC General Assembly eyes nuclear reactors as it debates an energy policy ‘driven by courage’
WFAE
All Things Considered · Marketplace · Programming Alerts · WFAE Radio … If Three Mile Island is the cautionary tale about nuclear safety, Vogtle Units …
Nuclear Power
NEWS
New Mission for Hanford Facility to Unleash American Nuclear Renaissance
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management announced on Feb. 3, 2026 that it is partnering with American nuclear fuel company …
Fears of new arms race as US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty due to expire – BBC
BBC
They include Poseidon – a new intercontinental, nuclear armed and nuclear powered undersea autonomous torpedo, and also Burevestnik – a nuclear armed …
Next-generation nuclear power can meet data center energy demand—if regulations allow it
Reason Magazine
Advanced nuclear power could provide a solution to rising energy costs and demand—unless federal regulations get in the way.
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
Hope for US–Iran talks shaken by drones, gunboats and new demands
iranintl.com
… nuclear file, excluding missiles and support for regional armed groups … Trump pairs deal talk with war threats ahead of Iran negotiations.
Iran’s president says it is ready to negotiate with the US – BBC
BBC
US President Donald Trump has built up forces in the region and threatened to take military action if Iran does not agree a deal on its nuclear …
Lavrov DECLARES ‘Dire Consequences’ If US Attacks Iran; Putin Aide Calls Trump Threats …
YouTube
… attack would spiral into a wider regional war. As tensions rise, Moscow … Threats UNACCEPTABLE. 42K views · 9 hours ago. #RussiaIranTensions …
Nuclear War
NEWS
Fears of new arms race as US-Russia nuclear weapons treaty due to expire – BBC
BBC
… nuclear war. The treaty capped the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads for each party to 1,550. It also established some transparency …
The treaty limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear arms is expiring. What to know.
The Washington Post
“During the Cold War, the U.S. just needed to make sure that their nuclear weapons were sufficient to deter Russia and also to reassure allies,” said …
A key nuclear weapons treaty is ending. It’s a blow to Russia’s ‘superpower’ myth | CNN
CNN
The Trump administration has, for example, already re-floated the idea of nuclear-armed “Trump-class” battleships, a Cold War era policy that was …
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
What Happens When Magma and Earthquakes Align in Yellowstone National Park?
Discover Magazine
The caldera is brimming with various types of magmatic, hydrothermal, and seismic activity, making it the ideal place for geologists to get a little …
Yellowstone Earthquakes That Are Related To Ground Deformation
National Parks Traveler
Editor’s Note: Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
Decades After Its Last Eruption, a Deadly Mexican Volcano Shows Unusual Changes
Green Matters
Experts have dismissed the possibility of an eruption, saying, ‘It’s Yellowstone being Yellowstone.’ 3 days ago. Rhode Island Man Shoveling His …
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