Following US President Donald Trump's statement about readiness to resume nuclear testing, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded with similar nuclear rhetoric. At a Russian Security Council meeting—which was supposed to address infrastructure issues—Duma Speaker Volodin asked Putin about how to react to American nuclear threats. Russia’s defense minister and chief of the general staff then accused the US of preparing for new tests, calling for Russia to do the same.
Putin has not given an order to resume testing so far, but he instructed relevant agencies to prepare proposals for possible resumption. The commentator emphasizes that escalation was initiated by the Kremlin, as Russia has been testing intercontinental missiles and showcasing new weapons systems in recent months.
Since 1990, Russia and other nuclear states have imposed a moratorium on nuclear testing, meaning Russia has little independent experience in this area. Restoring tests would mark a serious escalation between the world’s two nuclear superpowers.
The US and Russia are currently relying on rhetoric, rather than concrete action, to demonstrate capabilities. However, past escalations of words have led to real military conflict, notably the war in Ukraine. Trump seeks to pressure Putin to abandon aggressive rhetoric and potentially stop the war in Ukraine, while Putin uses such statements to bolster domestic political support.
The resumption of nuclear tests will depend on how the situation develops in the coming weeks. Dialogue between Washington and Moscow could halt the escalation, but a new era of nuclear testing could begin in the 21st century if it fails, fundamentally altering relations between Russia and the West.
