President Vladimir Putin declared Wednesday that Russia could resume its nuclear tests if The United States decides to do the same, in response to the statements of its counterpart Donald Trump, who ordered the Pentagon to “begin testing” American nuclear weapons.
During a meeting of his Security Council, Putin instructed the competent authorities to “do everything necessary to collect additional information on this matter (…) and present coordinated proposals on the possible start of preparatory work for nuclear tests“, according to statements broadcast on television.
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Putin described as a “serious matter” Trump’s statements, who assured that his country would carry out tests since “other countries do it”, without clarifying whether he was referring to carrying out nuclear explosions, something that has not been carried out in the United States. since 1992.
Moscow’s last nuclear test dates back to 1990, shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union. However, Russia regularly carries out tests, like other countries, with carriers that do not carry nuclear payloads, such as recently the Poseidon underwater drone and the Burevestnik missile.
The Russian leader assured on Wednesday that Russia ““has always scrupulously respected its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.”but “if the United States or other signatory States of the Treaty were to proceed with such tests, Russia would be forced to take appropriate retaliatory measures.”
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said he “considers it appropriate to immediately begin preparations for large-scale nuclear tests,” citing the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic as a possible testing ground.
According to him, American aircraft “considerably increase the level of military threat to Russia.”