Core Points - The escalating threats of nuclear tests between the U.S. and Russia have raised global concerns about a new arms race, particularly with the New START treaty set to expire on February 4 [1][5] - The New START treaty limits the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads to 1,550 for both countries, and there has been no significant progress towards a new agreement [1][5] - Despite ongoing tensions, both nations appear to be adhering to the treaty's limits on strategic nuclear weapons [6] Group 1 - The U.S. and Russia have exchanged provocative statements regarding nuclear tests, with Trump ordering the first U.S. nuclear test in 30 years following Putin's missile test announcement [1] - Trump expressed a positive response to Putin's proposal to extend the New START treaty, but no formal negotiations have taken place since then [3][5] - The U.S. Secretary of State indicated that discussions about potential dialogue regarding the treaty are ongoing, despite Russia's suspension of a key monitoring mechanism [5][6] Group 2 - Experts are concerned that the absence of a new agreement could lead to dangerous miscalculations, as it would be the first time in decades that the U.S. and Russia could deploy long-range nuclear weapons without constraints [6] - Some experts believe that a political agreement to maintain the treaty's limits on deployed warheads could be achieved relatively quickly [6] - There is increasing pressure from Republican officials against extending the treaty, with some arguing that it restricts U.S. modernization of nuclear forces [7][8]