On Feb 2 2019 the US began its withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. At that time Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said, Russia remained in material breach of its obligations not to produce, possess, or flight-test a ground-launched, intermediate-range cruise missile system with a range between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, world military expenditure in 2017 reached the highest level since the end of the Cold War. Moreover, the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India all allocated over $60 billion to their respective armed forces in 2017.

The US outspent every nation by investing $610 billion on its military forces in 2017. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) introduced the No First Use Act to prohibit the US from initiating nuclear war. Similar bills have been introduced this year in congress. On February 21st 2023, Russia suspended its participation in New START. On May 18th of this year, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) announced the introduction of the No START Treaty Act, legislation that accuses Russia of violating the New START arms control treaty and demanding immediate American withdrawal. The new legislation consists of plans to strengthen US nuclear forces while also setting limits on future arms control deals and negotiations. According to Senator Cotton’s Press Office, the bill calls for the requirement of an assessment of the sufficiency of present and planned US nuclear forces, as well as calls for an implementation plan to address any possible deficiencies in the US nuclear deterrent.