In the latest twist in global brinkmanship, Russia has now begun developing plans to potentially resume nuclear weapons testing.
According to Fox News, this follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States would restart nuclear tests, igniting a tense back-and-forth between two nuclear-armed heavyweights that haven’t tested explosives in decades.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Wednesday that he has directed Russian agencies to prepare comprehensive proposals for nuclear tests, should events push them in that direction. Though he insisted Russia is still abiding by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, or CTBT, he made it clear that Moscow won’t stand idle while Washington shifts its strategy.
Putin Claims Treaty Loyalty — With Conditions
“Russia has always strictly adhered and continues to adhere to its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty,” Putin said, managing to sound both diplomatic and defiant. However, immediately after pledging loyalty to the pact, he warned that if others break the rules, Russia would be forced to respond in kind.
This, of course, is the same treaty the United States signed but never ratified. Talk about paper promises with pre-made loopholes. Unlike the Russians, America left itself wiggle room from the very beginning. The nuclear tit-for-tat kicked off last week when Trump posted to Truth Social that he had ordered the Department of War to begin testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with other nations. According to his post, that process would begin “immediately.”
U.S. Government in Shutdown, Testing Still Ordered
Trump’s directive comes during a partial government shutdown that has left roughly 80% of workers at the National Nuclear Security Administration — the team responsible for overseeing actual nuclear explosive testing — on furlough. So the president gives the command, but who’s left to carry it out?
Let’s not forget, the U.S. hasn’t conducted a live nuclear weapons explosion since 1992. Russia has kept to its own hiatus since 1990. But the testing of delivery systems — from missiles to underwater drones — continues on both sides. Just days ago, the United States launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from California to the Marshall Islands, a routine check of accuracy but an unsubtle reminder of power.
Russia Upgrades Its Capabilities With New Threats
The Kremlin wasn’t idle either. Russia recently carried out test runs of two nuclear-capable delivery systems: the Poseidon underwater drone and a nuclear-powered cruise missile. The message is loud and unmistakable — capability on standby, button unpressed… for now.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and a current top official on the country’s security council, expressed both mockery and concern over Trump's announcement. "No one knows what Trump meant about ‘nuclear testing’, he probably doesn’t himself," Medvedev said with signature Russian bluntness. Yet he concluded on a more serious note: “The consequences of such words are inescapable: Russia will be forced to assess the expediency of conducting full-fledged nuclear tests itself.” When the translation says “inescapable,” it’s time to pay attention.
Kremlin Watching U.S. Actions, Not Just Words
Russia’s Defense Minister Andrey Belousov added that Moscow is observing more than just speeches from American politicians. “We must… focus not only on statements… but above all on the actual actions of the United States,” he stated plainly.
All this comes at a time when both countries are flexing their nuclear muscles while claiming balance and restraint. The irony is rich — two nuclear giants flexing cautiously, while pointing fingers like schoolyard kids holding matches near a powder keg. Trump, ever blunt, stated earlier: “We redid our nuclear — we're the number one nuclear power, which I hate to admit, because it's so horrible.” Sure, the man isn’t subtle, but he’s not necessarily wrong about the pecking order.
Time To Read Between The Megaton Lines
While Trump floats the idea of a denuclearization pact with Russia and China — and let’s admit, that’s a long shot — he also underlines America’s dominance. “Russia's second. China's a distant third, but they'll catch us within four or five years,” he said. Not a message rooted in fear, but strategy.
What Washington’s progressive class may miss is that peace through strength isn’t a throwback — it’s still table stakes in a world where authoritarians measure resolve by what you’re willing to test, not just talk about.
Neither nuclear tests nor escalatory posturing is desirable. But as Russia begins to move its chess pieces, it’s worth remembering that deterrence exists for a reason — and bluffing with empty holsters only emboldens the opposition.
