Russia ready to lift ban on nuclear testing – US, think tanks and experts warn of being vigilant

Moscow/Washington: Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated that Russia can start conducting nuclear tests again. For this, President Putin has also given orders so that the Russian Parliament starts the process of withdrawing from the international agreements passed in the last century. The Russian President’s decision to begin preparations to conduct new nuclear tests amid the growing intensity of the Russia-Ukraine conflict is raising concerns among the Western community and the United States. International practice groups and analysts have warned that Russia’s activities are a ‘warning signal’ and will trigger a competition to conduct new nuclear tests worldwide.

While speaking at the ‘Valdai Discussion Club’ event last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Russia has developed new nuclear weapons. The Russian President had also made such a statement that these nuclear weapons can easily reach the United States and no one will be able to stop them. Besides, Putin had ordered Russia to start conducting new nuclear tests again. Thus, the Russian parliament should complete the necessary process. Following the orders of President Putin, the Russian parliament has organised a session for discussion in this week itself, according to sources.

In the year 1996, an agreement called the ‘Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty’ (CTBT) was approved by the international community. According to this agreement, there is a ban on carrying out nuclear explosions for military and civilian purposes. This agreement was signed by both the countries the United States and Russia and the parliament approved it in 2000. However, the United States has not approved this agreement in its parliament.

Just a few days after the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, President Putin had instructed his ‘nuclear forces’ to remain on alert. After this, in the last year and a half, Russian nuclear forces have organised at least three war exercises and conducted two nuclear tests. It includes the new advanced ‘Sarmat’ nuclear weapon. The process of deploying these nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict is also said to have started. On the other hand, Russia has also deployed ‘Tactical Nuclear Weapons‘ in neighbouring and friendly country Belarus. This increasing nuclear activity of Russia has proved to increase the concern of the United States and Western countries.

In such a situation, Russia has again created a sensation by hinting at starting new nuclear tests. Think tanks have drawn attention to the fact that if Russia starts activities as hinted, countries like the United States, China, India and Pakistan will not stay behind. Analysts also claimed that a new competition for conducting nuclear tests could begin globally.

Meanwhile, the United States has prepared a new secret plan against weapons of mass destruction, senior Russian official Igor Kirillov claimed. Kirillov has made a statement about preparing a new plan against the increasing number of weapons of mass destruction present in the fleets of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.