On This Day
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Last nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia expires; the countries have no limits on their arsenal size f

Last nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia expires; the countries have no limits on their arsenal size for the first time since 1972 [1]

The United States holds the second largest arsenal of nuclear weapons among the nine nuclear-armed countries. Under the Manhattan Project, the United States became the first country to manufacture nuclear weapons and remains the only country to have used them in combat, with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II against Japan. In total it conducted 1,054 nuclear tests, the most of any country. It is an original party to and one of the five "nuclear-weapon states" recognized by the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

As of 2025, the US and Russia possess a comparable number of warheads; together more than 90% of the world's stockpile. The US holds in total 5,177 warheads, of which 3,700 are stockpiled, and 1,477 are awaiting dismantlement.

Historical Significance

The United States holds the second largest arsenal of nuclear weapons among the nine nuclear-armed countries.

Events Before

  1. A 42-year-old American army veteran plows through a New Year's Eve celebration on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in a ren

    A 42-year-old American army veteran plows through a New Year's Eve celebration on Bourbon Street in New Orleans in a rented pick-up truck; 14 people die, dozens are injured, and the driver is killed in a shoot-out with police [1]

  2. Governor Gavin Newsom says the California wildfires will be one of the worst natural disasters in US history; having bla

    Governor Gavin Newsom says the California wildfires will be one of the worst natural disasters in US history; having blazed through 40,000 acres, damaged about 12,000 structures and killed at least 24 people [1]

  3. Chinese startup DeepSeek launches the AI model R1, with capabilities similar to other AI models but at a fraction of the

    Chinese startup DeepSeek launches the AI model R1, with capabilities similar to other AI models but at a fraction of the cost, prompting experts to call it a “Sputnik moment” [1]

  4. US Army helicopter practicing night vision flying, crashes mid-air into commercial jet, killing all 67 passengers, inclu

    US Army helicopter practicing night vision flying, crashes mid-air into commercial jet, killing all 67 passengers, including dozens of figure skaters, and crew members, over the Potomac River while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington D.C.

  5. A group of 1,000 artists including Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, and Kate Bush, release a lyric-less album to protest a pr

    A group of 1,000 artists including Annie Lennox, Billy Ocean, and Kate Bush, release a lyric-less album to protest a proposed British law allowing developers access to copyrighted material to train AI [1]

More from the 2020s

Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maxim

Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maximums, and 53% on doubles to seal his first PDC World Darts Championship in London

Cuba's "day zero" unifies its two currencies by withdrawing the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), alongside steep increases

Cuba's "day zero" unifies its two currencies by withdrawing the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), alongside steep increases in prices and salaries, effectively devaluing the remaining Cuban Peso for the first time since 1959 [1]

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; h

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; he hits 3-pointers to beat the Washington Wizards 120-119 and the previous night the Indiana Pacers 108-106

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on February 5, 2026?
The United States holds the second largest arsenal of nuclear weapons among the nine nuclear-armed countries. Under the Manhattan Project, the United States became the first country to manufacture nuclear weapons and remains the only country to have used them in combat, with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II against Japan. In total it conducted 1,054 nuclear tests, the most of any country.
Why is Last nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia expires; the count... significant?
The United States holds the second largest arsenal of nuclear weapons among the nine nuclear-armed countries.

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February 5 in HistoryYear 2026