Lavrov assesses US nuclear weapons testing

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a statement regarding the conduct of new tests within the scope of Russia's nuclear program.

Lavrov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered senior Russian officials on Wednesday, November 5, to prepare proposals regarding potential nuclear weapons tests, noting that preparations are ongoing in this process and that the results will be shared with the public.

"RUSSIA WILL RESPOND IN KIND"

On November 5, Putin stated that Russia has always remained committed to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but that if the US or any other nuclear power were to conduct such a test, Russia would respond in kind. Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov also stated that Russia's test site in Novaya Zemlya could host nuclear weapons tests in a short time.

"DO NOT HAVE A COMMON UNDERSTANDING"

The Russian Foreign Minister also touched upon the instruction given by US President Donald Trump to the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) to resume nuclear testing. Lavrov said, "No explanation has been provided to Russia from the US through diplomatic channels regarding the instruction."

Lavrov stated, "It is unclear whether the matter concerns the testing of nuclear weapon delivery systems or subcritical tests, or whether President Trump meant full-scale nuclear tests. The statements from Washington representatives that have reached the public show that they do not have a common understanding of what President Trump meant."

TRUMP HAD SAID 'WE WILL DO SOME TESTS'

In a press statement he made on October 31, Trump answered questions regarding his previous social media post about nuclear tests. When asked by a journalist about whether the US had decided to resume these tests, noting that the US had not conducted an underground nuclear explosion since 1992, Trump said, "You will find out very soon. We will do some tests. Other countries are doing them. If they are doing them, we will do them too." Avoiding giving details about the scope or location of the tests, Trump stated that he had instructed the Pentagon to begin nuclear testing and said, "I know exactly what we are doing, where we are doing it, but I am not going to say anything yet."

Subcritical tests are tests in which no nuclear reaction occurs and are conducted by countries with nuclear capabilities to maintain the safety and operational readiness of their nuclear weapons stockpiles.