Overview
- At a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin directed defense and foreign ministries to draft proposals for resuming tests, reiterating Russia would proceed only if the United States tests first.
- President Donald Trump on Oct. 30 publicly urged an immediate restart of U.S. nuclear testing, describing it as on an equal footing with Russia and China.
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright later clarified that tests envisioned by the U.S. would not involve nuclear explosions.
- Putin’s move followed recent Kremlin announcements of successful trials of a nuclear‑capable cruise missile and a nuclear‑propelled underwater drone.
- The United States has not conducted a nuclear detonation since 1992, the CTBT remains unsigned by some and unratified by Washington, and monitors note nine nuclear‑armed states today per SIPRI and FAS data.