Russia suspended New START in 2023, and proposals for a one-year extension surfaced, with U.S. signals indicating openness to deeper arms-control talks.

The Pope urged Russian and American leaders to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty before it expires, warning that a failure to act could trigger a new arms race amid rising tensions.

He called for replacing fear and distrust with a shared ethical framework to manage security concerns and prevent a fresh arms race, emphasizing dialogue and cooperation.

Speaking from the Vatican, he noted he is the first pope from the United States and urged urgency in preserving arms-control ties as global tensions mount.

Russia suspended participation in the treaty in 2023 without a formal withdrawal, though it said it would continue to observe agreed limits.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010 and effective since 2011, is set to expire in the near future, with implications for strategic arms limits.

Current estimates place Russia at about 5,460 nuclear warheads and the United States at about 5,180, with China believed to have over 600 deployable warheads, underscoring the stakes of any agreement.

New START caps strategic warheads at 1,550 per side and imposes limits on intercontinental missiles and launchers, with verification provisions to ensure compliance.

Historically, the treaty limited each side to 800 deployed strategic launchers and heavy bombers, alongside the 1,550 deployed warheads and verification mechanisms.

Experts warn that the planned April NPT conference in New York could falter amid tensions and the looming expiration of New START.

Russia previously proposed a year-long informal extension of the treaty, while the United States has shown interest in negotiating a stronger agreement earlier.

The appeal was made in a public Vatican address, with inputs attributed to multiple agencies.