Post by : Rameen Ariff

Russia on Thursday clarified that its recent weapons tests were not nuclear detonations, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of new US nuclear tests. The Kremlin sought to ease growing tensions with Washington after Moscow conducted trials of the Burevestnik cruise missile and Poseidon underwater drone, both nuclear-capable systems.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “Regarding the tests of Poseidon and Burevestnik, this cannot in any way be interpreted as a nuclear test. We hope the information was conveyed correctly to President Trump.” Russia regularly conducts exercises involving nuclear-capable systems while maintaining a de facto moratorium on actual nuclear warhead tests.

Trump said Thursday that he had ordered the US tests “because of other countries’ testing programs,” posting on social media that he instructed the Department of War to test the US nuclear arsenal “on an equal basis.” It remains unclear whether Trump referred to live warhead tests — which the US last conducted in 1992 — or merely weapons systems capable of carrying atomic payloads.

The Kremlin indicated that Russia would respond in kind if the United States conducted live nuclear tests. “If someone departs from the moratorium, Russia will act accordingly,” Peskov said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned that Moscow would follow suit if the US resumed nuclear testing.

These developments come amid heightened concern over nuclear escalation, as Russia and the United States together control approximately 90 percent of the world’s nuclear arsenal, totaling around 11,000 warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

In 1996, both nations signed — but have not ratified — the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which bans all nuclear explosions for civilian or military purposes. Putin has touted Russia’s new nuclear-powered weapons, claiming they can reach any continent and evade current defence systems, raising further unease in global security circles.

Analysts warn that any misinterpretation of these tests could exacerbate nuclear tensions, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic communication between the US and Russia to avoid escalation.

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