On November 5, Russian Security Council Vice Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Russia was forced to begin assessing the feasibility of preparations for nuclear testing due to US actions.
On the Telegram channel, Mr. Medvedev emphasized that Mr. Donald Trump's words have great weight because he is the President of the United States, and its consequences are inevitable. He affirmed that it was the US's statements that "forced" Russia to "re-examine" its own comprehensive nuclear testing capabilities.
Medvedev's tough statement was issued in response to President Trump's recent comments. Trump has previously instructed the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing, citing other countries as doing the same. Although the US leader did not specify what kind of test he was referring to, or whether it involved nuclear warheads, the statement raised concerns about a new arms race.
Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin also mentioned this issue in a meeting with the Standing Members of the Security Council. Mr. Putin emphasized that although Moscow still complies with the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban (CTBT), Russia will respond if other participants, including the US, violate the agreement. President Putin has directed the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and special agencies to study the feasibility of preparing for such experiments.
However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has clarified, emphasizing that Russia has not mentioned practical preparation at this stage but only the research and evaluation stage.
The nuclear test arms race is heightening tensions. The CTBT treaty was opened for signature in 1996, and although Russia ratified it (later withdrawn in 2023), the US has never ratified it. Russia explained that the withdrawal of the approval was to "synchronize" the legal stance with the US.
Medvedev's latest statement, following announcements of successful testing of strategic weapons such as Poseidon and Burevestnik, shows Moscow is becoming more determined in responding to what it says are stimulus from Washington.
