Moscow has hinted at the possibility of resuming nuclear weapons testing after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Department of War to begin preparations for fresh trials.
Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, while addressing the country’s Security Council, warned that Washington is stepping back from long-standing arms control treaties and advancing new missile systems such as the Sentinel ballistic missile. He argued that these developments could pave the way for renewed U.S. nuclear tests.
“Considering the current situation, I believe Russia must also be ready to restart nuclear testing without delay,” Belousov said. He added that the Novaya Zemlya test site already has the infrastructure and personnel required to resume operations quickly.
Acting on the minister’s advice, President Vladimir Putin directed the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, and other relevant agencies to gather detailed assessments and present coordinated proposals on the matter. The issue will be reviewed at the Security Council level.
This comes shortly after President Trump announced in late October that the U.S. would resume nuclear testing, describing it as a major shift in national security policy. On his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote that America must test “on equal terms” since other nations continue their own nuclear programs.
In a subsequent interview with CBS News, Trump claimed that Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan are all conducting nuclear experiments.
“They test, others test, so we will test too,” he said, reinforcing his stance that the U.S. should not remain behind in strategic capabilities.
The statements from both Washington and Moscow have sparked renewed debate over the future of global arms control and the risk of escalating nuclear competition.