MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law that revokes Russia’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a significant development in the context of global nuclear disarmament efforts.
The 1996 treaty was designed to prohibit all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it never became legally binding as some key nations, including the United States and China, did not ratify it.
This move by Russia comes amid accusations from the West of the country using provocative nuclear rhetoric, particularly since the beginning of its offensive in Ukraine last February. Just last week, President Putin oversaw ballistic missile drills, which Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu referred to as preparation for a “massive” retaliatory nuclear strike against an unspecified adversary.
President Putin had also previously stated that he was “not ready to say” whether Russia would conduct live nuclear tests in the future.
The bill to revoke the treaty swiftly passed through Russia’s parliament last month. During parliamentary discussions, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin framed this decision as a response to the “cynicism” and “boorish attitudes” of the United States regarding nuclear weapons.
It’s worth noting that while the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty never came into force, it was ratified by 178 countries, including nuclear-armed states like France and Britain. The treaty carried significant symbolic value as it aimed to establish an international norm against live tests of nuclear weapons. However, its effectiveness has been limited by the absence of ratifications from major nuclear powers.
Russia originally ratified the treaty in June 2000, just six months after Vladimir Putin assumed the presidency for the first time. This recent decision to withdraw from the treaty reflects a complex and evolving landscape in the realm of global arms control and nuclear disarmament efforts.
