Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered preparations for nuclear tests following President Donald Trump’s announcement that the U.S. will resume such activities. Putin emphasized the need for coordinated proposals to prepare for nuclear weapons testing, while reaffirming Russia’s commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The announcement comes amid heightened tensions as the U.S. moves to revive nuclear testing, prompting a potential arms race.
Trump’s decision to resume nuclear testing, announced on social media, has triggered a series of responses from global powers. The U.S. recently conducted a test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, landing it 4,200 miles away at a test site in the Marshall Islands. Russia, which has not conducted an explosive nuclear test since 1990, has now vowed to take ‘proportionate and appropriate measures’ in response to the U.S. move.
Russia’s former president, Dmitry Medvedev, noted the ambiguity of Trump’s statements, suggesting that the U.S. president may not fully understand the implications of his words. Meanwhile, Russia’s defense minister, Andrey Belousov, warned that the U.S. is actively expanding its strategic offensive capabilities, urging a focus on tangible actions rather than political rhetoric.
The renewed nuclear testing by the U.S. and the potential Russian response have raised alarms about a dangerous arms race. The situation is further complicated by Trump’s simultaneous push for a denuclearization agreement with Russia and China, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape.