Russia tests Sarmat, US launches Minuteman, NPT stalls
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- Russia launched a Sarmat ICBM on May 12, and President Vladimir Putin said the missile will be combat‑ready by the end of 2026.
- United States Air Force fired an unarmed Minuteman III on May 20, a system slated to stay in service through 2050 because the Sentinel ICBM program is years behind schedule and billions over budget.
- NPT Review Conference concluded without a consensus document, with a deadlock between the United States and Iran over language naming Iran’s nuclear activities.
- Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, warned the conference missed a chance to reaffirm support for the treaty’s core principles amid rising nuclear dangers.
- Do Hung Viet, chair of the conference, warned that another failure could erode the credibility of the NPT itself.
Why it matters: US defense must keep Minuteman III in service through 2050, extending a costly Cold‑War system while the Sentinel ICBM program runs years behind schedule and is billions over budget, and the NPT deadlock erodes treaty credibility, raising proliferation risk.
