Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored a major shift in U.S. arms control policy, stating that any meaningful framework for 21st-century arms control must include China. Speaking at a press conference on February 5, 2026, Rubio said the president has been clear that agreements limited to the United States and Russia no longer reflect global strategic realities, given China’s vast and rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal.

Rubio emphasized that China’s stockpile, estimated by U.S. intelligence to exceed 500 nuclear warheads and projected to reach 1,000 by 2030, fundamentally alters the balance of power. He argued that ignoring Beijing’s buildup while pursuing bilateral limits would leave the United States strategically disadvantaged and undermine the purpose of arms control itself, which is to enhance stability and reduce the risk of conflict.

His remarks came the same day the U.S.-Russia New START treaty formally expired without renewal. The agreement, which for years capped deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 for each country, had served as the last remaining pillar of Cold War–era arms control. Its expiration marks the first time in more than half a century that the world’s two largest nuclear powers face no formal limits on their arsenals.

The Trump administration has framed this moment not as a retreat from arms control, but as a necessary reset. Officials argue that previous treaties failed to account for new nuclear actors and emerging threats, particularly China’s rapid military modernization conducted outside any binding international constraints.

By calling for China’s inclusion, Rubio signaled that future arms control efforts must be broader, more realistic, and aligned with current geopolitical conditions. The administration maintains that sustainable stability cannot be achieved through outdated agreements, but through frameworks that reflect today’s multipolar nuclear landscape and hold all major powers accountable.