Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov attends a meeting chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin on operational issues at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia October 16, 2023. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Russia Warns Trump Administration Against Resuming Nuclear Testing
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, responsible for arms control, cautioned President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration on Friday against resuming U.S. nuclear testing. Ryabkov expressed concerns over escalating tensions and highlighted Moscow’s readiness to consider its own options should Washington take such a step.
Deteriorating Arms Control Framework
The resumption of nuclear testing by the United States or Russia would mark a significant and dangerous shift, undoing decades of restraint. Both countries, along with China, are modernizing their nuclear arsenals, while Cold War-era arms control treaties continue to unravel.
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), signed in 1996, prohibits nuclear tests but has not been ratified by the U.S. and was officially revoked by Russia in 2023. While neither country has conducted nuclear tests since the early 1990s, Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov described the U.S. stance on arms control as “extremely hostile” and suggested that Moscow’s response would remain flexible.
“The options for us to act in the interests of ensuring security… do not rule anything out,” Ryabkov said in an interview with Kommersant.
Fears of Renewed Testing
During Trump’s first term (2017–2021), his administration reportedly considered resuming nuclear testing for the first time since 1992, raising concerns among arms control experts. Testing advocates argue it could accelerate new weapons development and send a strong message to rivals such as Russia and China.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has signaled that Moscow could resume testing if the U.S. does so. Last month, Putin lowered Russia’s threshold for a nuclear strike in response to conventional threats and recent attacks attributed to U.S.-supplied weapons used by Ukraine.
Global Nuclear Arsenal
Russia and the United States remain the world’s leading nuclear powers, with arsenals comprising 5,580 and 5,044 warheads, respectively, representing 88% of the world’s nuclear stockpile. By comparison, China holds about 500 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
Historical Context
Between 1945 and 1996, over 2,000 nuclear tests were conducted globally, with the U.S. accounting for 1,032 and the Soviet Union 715. Russia has not tested since 1990, while the U.S. last tested in 1992. Other nations, including North Korea, India, and Pakistan, have conducted nuclear tests in more recent years, raising concerns about global proliferation.
Potential Consequences
Renewed testing by either the U.S. or Russia could trigger a global cascade of nuclear tests, complicating international security and undermining decades of efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation. Experts warn that such developments would destabilize the current geopolitical balance and fuel an arms race among nuclear-armed nations.
Outlook
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, the debate over nuclear testing could become a pivotal issue in global arms control. Russia’s warnings highlight the potential risks of dismantling long-standing norms and agreements, underscoring the urgency of diplomatic efforts to prevent renewed testing.
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