Russia to consider testing​ nuclear weapons if US does it first, despite nuclear test ban

ussia will apparently move to do away with the global nuclear test ban if Washington starts testing its own nuclear weapons. The U.S. has already made known that it is preparing to test its nuclear arsenal without setting off any explosions.

The Associated Press reported that Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov shared with media that the country will move to rescind its agreement on the nuclear test ban to keep up with what the U.S. is doing.

However, the U.S. does not have plans to back out of the nuclear test ban but instead has developed a new way of testing nuclear weapons that does not require setting off one of the weapons. The United States' new test strategy, known as the Scorpius project, intends to see what happens during an nuclear implosion without setting off a nuclear explosion. The cost of the project is expected to reach $1.8 billion, and it could go into effect as soon as 2027.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was instituted in 1996, following the Cold War, which placed a ban on all nuclear explosions throughout the whole world. It was subsequently signed by the U.S. and Russian presidents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that Moscow could potentially back out of its decision to ratify the agreement, but a firm decision has not yet been made. There are reportedly concerns over Moscow resuming nuclear tests to dissuade the West from continuing to support Ukraine.

Robert Floyd, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, expressed concern over Russia pulling out of the treaty, which he believes is in the interest of humanity, per Reuters.

As a result, Floyd has requested to speak with Russian officials as soon as possible, saying that the "CTBTO operates a global monitoring system which can detect a nuclear test explosion anytime, anywhere."

"Banning nuclear testing remains essential to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and to safeguarding current and future generations from the harmful effects of explosive nuclear testing."

However, the speaker of the State Duma, the Russian Parliament's lower house, said that the country intended to rescind ratification of the nuclear test ban. It was reported that the foreign affairs committee was given 10 days to prepare its case before it will be decided upon by the house.

There have apparently been a total of ten nuclear tests that have taken place since the treaty was ratified. India and Pakistan conducted their own in 1998, and North Korea carried out tests in 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016, and 2017.

Military analyst on possible nuclear-powered missile test in Russiawww.youtube.com

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