President Vladimir Putin has instructed Russian officials to study the feasibility of resuming nuclear weapons testing, signaling a potential shift in policy. In a recent security council briefing, Putin emphasized the superior modernity and strength of Russia’s nuclear arsenal, which includes advanced land, sea, and air assets. His directive asks defense and foreign ministry experts to gather relevant data and prepare recommendations on initiating test activities. This move comes in the wake of comments from former US President Donald Trump, who indicated that the United States might consider restarting its own nuclear testing if other countries are doing so.
A spokesperson for the Russian President was quick to clarify that these instructions do not signify an immediate plan to conduct actual tests. The primary objective, according to the spokesperson, is to explore whether preparing for tests would be a prudent step. Meanwhile, concerns about clandestine nuclear activities have been raised, with Trump alleging that nations like North Korea, Pakistan, China, and Russia are engaging in secret underground testing. He argued that the US should not be left behind. Historically, North Korea has been the sole nation to conduct a nuclear test in the 21st century, with its last detonation occurring in 2017. Although Russia has developed new nuclear-powered weapons, it has refrained from full-scale explosive tests, though some Western nations suspect undeclared, low-yield experiments.