Putin Orders Nuclear Test Preparations in Response to Trump Administration Announcement

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Wednesday that his government will begin preparations for nuclear weapons testing, a direct response to President Donald Trump’s declaration last week that the United States would resume its own nuclear testing program after a 32-year hiatus.

Speaking at a meeting of Russia’s national security council, Putin instructed relevant departments to submit coordinated proposals regarding the possible commencement of nuclear weapons testing. The Russian leader emphasized that his country has strictly adhered to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and maintains no plans to deviate from those commitments, unless circumstances change.

“If the United States or other signatories of the treaty begin nuclear testing, Russia would also have to take appropriate and proportionate responsive measures,” Putin stated, making clear the conditional nature of his country’s preparations.

The developments mark a significant shift in global nuclear policy. The United States has not conducted an explosive nuclear test since 1992, while Russia’s last known test occurred in 1990. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, signed by both nations, was never ratified by the United States Senate, leaving it in a state of liminal international law.

President Trump announced his decision through a statement on Truth Social, citing other countries’ testing programs as justification. “Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” the president wrote. “That process will begin immediately.”

The timing of the announcement has raised concerns among arms control experts, particularly given the current government shutdown. Approximately 1,400 workers at the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration, which would be responsible for testing nuclear explosives, are currently on furlough. This represents roughly 80 percent of the agency’s workforce.

In what appears to be a dual-track approach, President Trump has also indicated he is pursuing denuclearization negotiations with both Russia and China. Speaking at the American Business Forum in Miami, the president acknowledged America’s nuclear superiority while expressing discomfort with the reality of nuclear arsenals.

“We are the number one nuclear power, which I hate to admit, because it is so horrible,” Trump said. “Russia is second. China is a distant third, but they will catch us within four or five years. We are maybe working on a plan to denuclearize, the three of us. We will see if that works.”

The administration’s strategy of simultaneously preparing for renewed testing while pursuing denuclearization represents a complex diplomatic gambit. Whether this approach constitutes negotiating from strength or risks accelerating a new arms race remains a matter of considerable debate.

Russia claimed last week to have tested two nuclear delivery vehicles: an undersea torpedo designated Poseidon and a nuclear-powered cruise missile. These tests involved the delivery systems rather than explosive nuclear devices themselves.

The United States regularly conducts tests of nuclear-capable vehicles, missiles, and rockets, including the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system. These tests verify the operational readiness of delivery systems without detonating nuclear warheads.

The international community now watches to see whether the president’s denuclearization efforts will gain traction or whether the world stands at the threshold of a renewed nuclear testing era. The stakes, as both leaders acknowledge, could hardly be higher.