Escalating Nuclear Threats: Trump and Putin Push the World Toward a Dangerous New Nuclear Arms Race
US–Russia signals on nuclear testing raise global security alarm.
The recent statements from the United States and Russia indicating a potential resumption of nuclear weapons testing have generated widespread concern within the global security community. US President Donald Trump’s announcement on Truth Social to initiate nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with other countries, though ambiguous about the nature of these tests, triggered a swift response from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin warned that Russia would reciprocate any nuclear testing by the US or other Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) signatories.
The CTBT, created to eliminate nuclear explosions, has established a long-standing international norm against such tests. Despite not formally entering into force due to non-ratification by nine key states, the treaty enjoys broad global support, with 187 signatories and 178 ratifications. However, major nuclear powers like the US, China, and Russia remain hesitant or have even withdrawn ratification, complicating efforts to maintain the moratorium on nuclear testing.
Experts warn that renewed testing by the US or Russia could prompt other nuclear-armed countries, especially China and India, to conduct their own tests. Such developments risk undermining global nonproliferation regimes, stoking regional arms races, and weakening international peace and security. While the US Energy Secretary clarified that forthcoming US tests would not involve nuclear explosions but subcritical experiments producing no explosive yield, concerns remain over the verification challenges posed by extremely low-yield underground tests.
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Supporting global oversight, the CTBT Organization in Vienna continues to monitor seismic and other signals for nuclear explosions worldwide. Its advanced detection network has successfully identified all North Korean nuclear tests in recent years. Officials suggest the organization could play a vital role in clarifying test intentions and easing international tensions if nuclear test activities escalate again.
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