Highlights
- On Wednesday, Russian President Putin ordered officials to draft proposals for possible nuclear weapons tests.
- Russia hasn’t conducted a nuclear test since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
- The Defence Minister says the Arctic testing site at Novaya Zemlya is ready at short notice.
- Trump announced last week that the US will start testing nuclear weapons on an equal basis.
- Security analysts warn that nuclear testing would destabilise the world at a time of tension.
Russia Considers First Nuclear Test Since 1990
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his top officials on Wednesday to prepare proposals for a possible nuclear weapons test, the first time Russia has done so since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Defence Minister Andrei Belousov told Putin that recent remarks and actions by the United States meant it was advisable to prepare for full-scale nuclear tests immediately. He said Russia’s Arctic testing site at Novaya Zemlya could host such tests at short notice.
Putin instructed the Foreign Ministry, Defence Ministry, special services and civilian agencies to collect information, analyse it at the Security Council and make proposals on possibly starting work to prepare nuclear weapons tests.
Experts Sound Warning Over Dangerous Cycle
No country other than North Korea has conducted explosive tests of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. North Korea last tested in 2017. Security analysts say a resumption of testing would be destabilising at a time of acute tension around the world. If any one country carries out such a test, analysts say the others are likely to follow suit.
Andrey Baklitskiy, senior researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, said that it was an action-reaction cycle at its best. “No one needs this, but we might get there regardless,” he wrote after the comments by Belousov. The United States last tested in 1992, China and France in 1996 and the Soviet Union in 1990.
Trump announced the US testing plans last week
In a surprise announcement last week, President Trump said that because of other countries’ testing programs, he instructed the Department of War to start testing American nuclear weapons on an equal basis. Trump said the process will begin immediately. He hasn’t clarified as yet whether he meant nuclear-explosive testing or flight testing of nuclear-capable missiles. Russia last month tested its new Burevestnik cruise missile, which is nuclear-powered and designed to carry a nuclear warhead.
Russia also held nuclear launch drills and tested a nuclear-powered Poseidon super-torpedo. Testing delivery systems for nuclear weapons doesn’t involve a nuclear explosion. Such blasts were regularly staged by nuclear powers for decades during the Cold War with devastating environmental consequences that campaigners fear could be unleashed again if explosive tests resume.
FAQs
Q: When did Russia last conduct a nuclear weapons test?
A: Russia last conducted a nuclear weapons test in 1990, while it was still the Soviet Union. Post-Soviet Russia has never conducted an explosive nuclear test.
Q: Why is Putin ordering nuclear test preparations now?
A: The Defence Minister of Russia said recent remarks and actions by the US make it advisable to prepare. Trump announced last week that the US will start testing nuclear weapons.
Q: Where would Russia conduct a nuclear test?
A: Russia’s Defence Minister has stated that the Arctic testing site at Novaya Zemlya could hold nuclear tests at short notice if Putin decides to proceed.
Q: What do security experts say about nuclear testing?
A: Security analysts warn that resuming nuclear testing would be destabilising at a time of acute geopolitical tension and could trigger other countries to test as well.
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