Indonesia Calls for US-Russia Nuclear Talks as New START Treaty Expires

February 8, 2026 | 05:15 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia expresses deep concern over the termination of a nuclear weapons limitation agreement between the United States and Russia. Jakarta also urges both countries to immediately engage in negotiations to maintain the limitation of nuclear weapons.

According to a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the termination of the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) on Thursday adds to the uncertainty of the global security situation.

"Indonesia urges the United States and Russian Federation to continue negotiations on the renewed limitations and reductions of strategic offensive arms," according to a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs via social media X on Sunday, February 8, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

With the termination of New START, these two countries are no longer restricted in terms of nuclear weapons for the first time since the early 1970s. Indonesia also urges these two major countries to maintain essential communication channels to prevent miscalculations and escalation.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the termination of the agreement increases the risk of starting a new arms race and the use of nuclear weapons, and "affirms the urgency of real progress in nuclear disarmament."

Indonesia views the risks posed by nuclear weapons as a threat to the survival and future of humanity, as their use would have catastrophic humanitarian consequences, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Therefore, Indonesia calls on the U.S. and Russia, as well as other nuclear-weapon states, to prevent a new arms race.

Indonesia also urges nuclear-weapon states to fulfill their legal obligations under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth, as stated by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

New START is a 10-year agreement signed by the U.S. and Russia, which came into effect on February 5, 2011. Both countries agreed to extend the agreement for an additional 5 years in 2021.

As of January 2025, it is known that Russia has 4,309 nuclear warheads, and the U.S. has 3,700. Meanwhile, France and the United Kingdom are U.S. allies bound by the agreement. They have 290 and 225 warheads, respectively. China has approximately 600.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his desire to negotiate a nuclear agreement better than the New START, but he insisted that China must also be involved in the new nuclear agreement. Meanwhile, Russia is urging the UK and France to also participate in the new agreement.

Read: Trump Says New Nuclear Treaty Needed to Replace New START

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