Russia Considers Resuming Nuclear Tests After U.S. Move — A New Arms Race on the Horizon:

Global nuclear tensions have spiked once again after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his top officials to prepare proposals for the possible resumption of nuclear weapons testing. The move follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s directive to “immediately” restart American nuclear tests after more than three decades of restraint. Speaking at a meeting of the Russian Security Council, Putin said that if the U.S. or any other country that signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) carries out a nuclear test, Russia “would be under obligation to take reciprocal measures.” He instructed the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, intelligence agencies, and other relevant departments to gather intelligence, analyse Washington’s intentions, and submit a detailed plan focusing on preparations for potential nuclear testing. Russia has not conducted a nuclear explosion since 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed. However, Putin’s new order signals that Moscow is ready to respond if the U.S. breaks the global testing moratorium. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later clarified that no specific deadline has been set, saying Russia will only act once it fully understands America’s intentions. Defense Minister Andrei Belousov warned that Washington’s recent decisions had increased “the level of military threat to Russia,” adding that the Novaya Zemlya test site in the Arctic could host tests at short notice. Russia’s top general, Valery Gerasimov, echoed this concern, saying that delaying preparations might cause Moscow to “lose time and opportunities for a timely response.” President Trump’s October 30 announcement to restart nuclear testing marked a sharp policy shift. It’s still unclear whether his directive refers to full-scale nuclear explosions or non-explosive missile flight tests, but analysts say either move could destabilize the fragile global arms-control framework. The U.S. last carried out a nuclear explosion in 1992, following a moratorium by President George H. W. Bush. For decades, the CTBT has served as a key symbol of restraint. Since it opened for signatures in 1996, only a few countries — India, Pakistan, and North Korea — have carried out nuclear tests. If Washington or Moscow breaks this pattern, experts warn it could set off a dangerous “action-reaction” cycle, drawing in other nuclear powers such as China, India, and Pakistan, and potentially sparking a new nuclear arms race. Analysts fear that renewed testing would not only shatter decades of progress in nuclear arms control but also threaten global security and the environment. Underground tests can still cause radioactive leaks and long-term ecological damage, while politically, they send a message that nuclear deterrence is once again at the center of global strategy. For now, Putin’s instruction stops short of authorizing any actual tests. Russia’s response will likely depend on how far the U.S. goes with its own plans. But even this preliminary move marks a chilling step toward renewed nuclear rivalry — one that could undo decades of international efforts to prevent a new Cold War-style arms race.

NEWS