President Vladimir Putin has initiated a review into the possibility of Russia resuming nuclear weapons testing. Instructions were given during a security council session for officials to collect data and formulate recommendations on potentially starting tests. Putin emphasized that Russia’s nuclear deterrent is highly modern and formidable, encompassing land, sea, and air capabilities. Following the meeting, a presidential spokesperson clarified that no actual tests are currently planned, and the directive is limited to assessing the feasibility and advisability of preparing for them.
This consideration comes shortly after former US President Donald Trump proposed that the United States should restart its nuclear testing program. Trump asserted that other nations, specifically naming North Korea, Pakistan, China, and Russia, are secretly conducting tests underground, and he believes the US should follow suit. Putin’s comments on the ‘highest level’ of modernity in Russia’s nuclear forces suggest a strong emphasis on maintaining a strategic advantage. It’s worth noting that in the 21st century, only North Korea has conducted a nuclear test, with its last occurring in 2017. While Russia has developed and tested new nuclear-powered weapons, it has not carried out full-scale explosions, though suspicions of undeclared low-yield tests persist from some international observers.