Russia Cautions It Will Match Nuclear Tests as Lavrov Points to U.S. Talks on Deployments in East Asia

Overview

• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the United States is holding contacts with South Korea and Japan about potentially placing nuclear weapons there, calling the discussions very dangerous.
• Lavrov cited congressional testimony from Pentagon nominee Robert Kadlec as saying the decision to resume U.S. nuclear testing was driven by geopolitical considerations rather than technical need.
• Russia stated it would conduct its own tests if any other nuclear-armed state proceeds with nuclear weapons testing.
• Lavrov said Russia has not announced plans to test and is seeking clarification from Washington, noting President Vladimir Putin ordered ministries, the military and security services to assess the situation and submit proposals.
• Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said it would be appropriate to begin preparations at the Novaya Zemlya test range, and he referenced President Donald Trump’s October 30 directive to conduct U.S. tests on “equal terms.”