Vladimir Putin Reverses Russia’s Commitment to Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially approved a law that revokes Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
According to Putin, this is aimed at aligning Russia’s stance with that of the United States.
Russia has clarified that it will only consider resuming nuclear testing if the United States does the same, and this move does not alter its nuclear posture or the sharing of nuclear activity information.
While the United States had signed but never ratified the treaty in 1996, President Putin had expressed his desire for Russia to adopt a similar position. Moscow’s de-ratification is in response to this goal.
Some experts in Western arms control are concerned that Russia might be moving towards conducting nuclear tests to exert intimidation and evoke fear, particularly amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. However, Russian officials have downplayed this notion.
On October 5, Vladimir Putin stated that he was undecided about whether Russia should resume nuclear testing. This uncertainty emerged following calls from Russian security experts and lawmakers to conduct a nuclear test as a warning to the West. Such a decision, if realized, could usher in a new era of significant power nuclear testing, a prospect that worries Western experts.
President Putin’s approval of the de-ratification law was swiftly posted on a government website, indicating that the decision has immediate effect. Both houses of Russia’s parliament have already endorsed this course of action.
Post-Soviet Russia has never conducted a nuclear test. The last nuclear test by the Soviet Union took place in 1990, and the United States conducted its last test in 1992.
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