Putin Responds to U.S. Nuclear Test Directive
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed senior officials to prepare proposals for potentially resuming nuclear weapons tests. This move comes in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement regarding a renewed push for American nuclear testing.
During a televised Security Council meeting in Moscow, Putin directed the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and Russian security services to gather more information and create a coordinated proposal for starting preparatory work for nuclear tests. This directive surprised many monitoring arms control efforts, especially following Trump’s recent statement on Truth Social, where he called for the Pentagon to “begin testing nuclear weapons on an even-handed basis.”
“I instruct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, and relevant agencies to take all necessary steps to gather further information, analyze it in the Security Council, and come up with a unified proposal for potentially starting preparatory work for nuclear testing,” Putin stated.
Defense Minister Andrei Belousov emphasized the need for readiness, suggesting that tests could be conducted quickly at Russia’s Novaya Zemlya range. Conversely, General Valery Gerasimov indicated that the preparation process might take several months or even years.
Trump’s message included the assertion, “As other countries have testing programs, I have directed the Department of the Army to begin equally testing our own nuclear weapons. That process will begin immediately.” This marked a significant signal regarding a possible shift in U.S. policy after 33 years without explosive nuclear testing.
However, just four days later, Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the administration’s plans did not entail any nuclear explosions. He explained to The Associated Press that the upcoming activities would be focused on non-critical system testing of components, not actual explosives. This has left some foreign observers confused about Washington’s intentions.
Russia heightened its testing stance earlier this year by withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, although it hasn’t conducted an explosive test since the Soviet era. Putin also mentioned that any Russian actions would hinge on the future moves of the U.S., as reported by The Associated Press.
