The Russian State Duma supported the withdrawal of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Speaking from the rostrum of parliament, Vyacheslav Nikonov, First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Chairman of the Board of the Russkiy Mir Foundation, noted that the decision was intended to “cool down hotheads” in the United States calling for the resumption of nuclear tests.
In his speech, Vyacheslav Nikonov recalled the history of nuclear tests by Washington, and US plans to strike the Soviet Union, which subsequently never left the agenda. In his opinion, the intention was thwarted by strategic parity after Moscow acquired its own nuclear weapons, and this formed the basis of international stability for decades.
“In 1963, an agreement was concluded banning nuclear tests in three environments – on land, under water and in space,” noted Vyacheslav Nikonov. “And this agreement continues to be in force, no one can cancel it.”
The first deputy head of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs denied accusations that after the withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT, Russia will resume nuclear tests. “The agreement is in force, no one has carried out ground tests since 1980 and is not going to do so,” he noted.
According to Vyacheslav Nikonov, Russia is withdrawing ratification of the treaty, which is not in force because it has not been ratified by either the United States or a group of other states. He noted that Russia will resume nuclear weapons tests only if they are resumed by Washington, which maintains its stakes on global dominance and “Russia’s strategic defeat.”
Vyacheslav Nikonov recalled that the United States unilaterally destroyed the arms control system and adopted a number of treaties designed to maintain international security and stability.
“In US political circles there is a lot of talk about the need to resume testing to modernize its nuclear triad,” he noted. “It is clear that we should not take on obligations that the United States does not take on.” Our decision today is designed to cool hot heads. The time for unilateral steps towards disarmament, which we have been taking since Mikhail Gorbachev, has passed. Hopefully forever.”