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Russia intensifies efforts to restart nuclear tests

#DefeatRussia
October 17,2023 643
Russia intensifies efforts to restart nuclear tests

Russia is withdrawing its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, said. Moscow explains the decision by the “irresponsible attitude” of the US to global security issues.

“We withdraw the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in the interests of ensuring the security of our country,” Volodin said. 

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted in 1996. At that time, the document was signed by 185 countries, including the United Kingdom, Russia and France – states that possess nuclear weapons.

A total of 170 countries have ratified the agreement. However, the treaty must be agreed to by 44 states possessing nuclear technologies must agree to the treaty to enter into force. Eight of the required countries – China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the US – have not yet done so.

Russia ratified the treaty in 2000, while Washington, due to its “irresponsible attitude to global security issues,” did not approve the document, the speaker of the State Duma said.

“The Russian Federation will do everything to protect its citizens and preserve global strategic parity,” Volodin said.

However, despite the withdrawal of ratification, Russia will continue cooperating with the Test Ban Organization and the global monitoring system that notifies the world of any nuclear test.

Russia has never conducted nuclear tests. The last time this happened on the territory of the Soviet Union was in 1990. The Institute for the Study of War believes that the Kremlin uses nuclear rhetoric to encourage the US and its allies to pressure Ukraine to start negotiations.

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