Putin Orders Preparations for Nuclear Tests After Trump Statement

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the statement by his American counterpart Donald Trump that Washington would resume nuclear tests represents a "serious problem".

The factual context of the situation is of key importance. At the end of last month, Trump ordered tests of American nuclear weapons, arguing that the US cannot lag behind Russia and China. This news provokes an immediate reaction from the Kremlin.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has reported to Putin on the increased strengthening of the US strategic forces and their plans to deploy weapons. This is happening at a time of growing tension between the two countries, especially in the field of armaments.

In response, the Russian president ordered high-ranking military and civilian officials responsible for defense to prepare proposals for the possible conduct of nuclear tests. Putin emphasized that Moscow's reaction would be adequate if other countries undertake similar tests. This is a clear signal of Russia's readiness to respond to potential actions by the US.

Putin said that Russia has always strictly adhered to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. However, he stressed that if the US or any other nuclear power takes such actions, Russia will follow their example.

During a meeting with the permanent members of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Belousov stated that the latest statements and actions by the US make it "expedient to prepare immediately for full-scale nuclear tests".

He added that the Russian test site in the Arctic, located on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, is capable of accepting such tests in the short term.

At the same time, Belousov highlights American developments in the field of defense. He noted that the US has begun the implementation of the "Golden Dome" program, which provides for interception and pre-launch destruction of Russian and Chinese missiles. In addition, Washington is working on the disconsecration of ballistic missile launch facilities "Trident 2" and is developing the prospective strategic submarine "Columbia".

Belousov added that a new heavy bomber "B-21 Raider" is being developed, as well as a cruise missile with a nuclear warhead. He also mentioned preparatory measures for the re-equipment of strategic bombers "B-52" into nuclear weapons carriers.

American exercises of the strategic offensive forces, such as "Global Thunder" in October this year, include the development of issues related to preventive missile nuclear strikes on Russian territory, according to Belousov.

The Defense Minister pointed out that the US is consistently withdrawing from strategic stability treaties. He pointed to the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 2002, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty of 2019 and the Open Skies Treaty of 2020. Belousov concluded that the possible US rejection of the moratorium on the conduct of nuclear tests could turn into a "completely logical step by Washington to destroy the system of global strategic stability in the world".

The stress in the room was palpable as Putin gave instructions. He ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the special services and the relevant civilian agencies "to do everything possible to gather additional information on the matter, analyze it in the Security Council and make coordinated proposals for possibly starting work on the preparation of weapons nuclear tests".

The last nuclear tests in the US were conducted in 1992, in China and France - in 1996, and in the Soviet Union - in 1990. Russia, which inherited the Soviet nuclear arsenal after the collapse of the USSR, has never conducted such tests, notes Reuters.