Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ordered his security and government officials to begin working on possible plans for nuclear weapons testing following U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that the United States would resume such tests.
The directive was issued during a meeting of Russia’s Security Council held in Moscow. Putin instructed the Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries, security agencies, and relevant civil departments to gather information, review the matter, and present proposals that could lead to preparations for future nuclear tests.
The decision followed recent remarks by Trump that the U.S. would restart nuclear testing, a move that has raised global concern about the possible end of long-standing nuclear restraint.
In response, Russia is considering taking similar steps to maintain balance if the U.S. proceeds.
According to reports from the meeting, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov informed Putin that the current situation made it necessary for Russia to prepare for full nuclear testing without delay.
He noted that Russia’s Arctic testing site in Novaya Zemlya was available for immediate use if needed.
Russia last conducted a nuclear test in 1990 when it was still part of the Soviet Union. Since then, the country has followed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which it has ratified.
The United States, however, signed the treaty but has not ratified it, leaving its position uncertain.
Trump’s statement last week reignited fears of a new era of nuclear competition between major powers.
He said he had directed his military officials to begin nuclear tests “on an equal basis,” sparking speculation about whether Washington would abandon its moratorium that has been in place since 1992.
U.S. officials later explained that the planned tests would focus on system checks that do not involve actual nuclear explosions.
These experiments would reportedly test the performance and reliability of the weapons’ delivery systems and other non-nuclear parts.
Still, Trump avoided giving a clear response when asked if he would approve underground nuclear explosions, leaving the matter open to interpretation.
While the U.S. continues to test missile systems capable of carrying nuclear warheads, it has not carried out an actual nuclear detonation in more than three decades.
The uncertainty surrounding Washington’s next steps has raised tension and drawn attention to the future of global nuclear agreements.
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