By Muhammad Mamman
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow will respond in kind if the United States resumes nuclear weapons testing, describing the move as a “serious issue” with grave implications for global security.
Speaking in Moscow on Thursday, Putin said Russia would have no choice but to mirror any such action by Washington, signalling a potential escalation in nuclear tensions between the two powers.
“If the United States conducts nuclear tests, we will do the same,” Putin declared, stressing that Russia remains committed to strategic stability but would not allow its security interests to be compromised.
The warning comes amid mounting strains in US–Russia relations, particularly over arms control and the collapse of several key non-proliferation agreements. Analysts fear that a renewed round of nuclear testing could undermine decades of efforts to curb the global spread of nuclear weapons.
International observers have urged both nations to exercise restraint and uphold their obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which bans all nuclear explosions for any purpose.
