Russia May Resume Nuclear Tests if US Does First, Putin Says
Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed his government to prepare for potential nuclear weapons testing if the United States resumes its own tests. Putin instructed defence and foreign ministry officials to gather information and develop proposals regarding the possible restart of testing.
Key Takeaways
- Putin ordered officials to prepare proposals on potential nuclear testing.
- Russia conducted a strategic nuclear forces simulation exercise.
- Kremlin clarified no actual test order has been given.
- Trump previously announced US would resume nuclear testing.
Nuclear Forces Simulation Conducted
Putin oversaw a simulation of Russia’s strategic nuclear forces involving land, sea, and air units to rehearse readiness and command structures. “The so-called modernity of our nuclear deterrent forces is at the highest level,” Putin stated, claiming Russia’s nuclear strength surpasses any other country.
Kremlin Clarifies Position
Putin’s spokesperson emphasized that Russia has not ordered any actual nuclear tests. “The President instructed us only to examine whether preparing for tests would be advisable,” the spokesperson clarified.
Trump’s Earlier Announcement
The Russian comments follow Donald Trump’s social media post before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Trump said the US would resume nuclear testing on an equal basis. Trump claimed other nations are secretly testing nuclear weapons, including North Korea, Pakistan, China, and Russia, insisting the US must follow suit.
“No, we’re going to test because they test and others test… They test way underground where people don’t know exactly what’s happening,” Trump said in a CBS 60 Minutes interview.
Nuclear Testing in Modern Era
Only North Korea has conducted nuclear tests in the 21st century, with its last explosion in 2017. Russia, despite testing new nuclear-powered weapons, has avoided full-scale explosions, though Washington accuses Moscow of conducting small, low-yield tests without transparency.
