Moscow/Washington: The world is witnessing a dangerous escalation in geopolitical tensions as the rivalry between Russia and the United States threatens to reignite the nuclear arms race. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has ordered preparations for a potential nuclear test, following a directive given by the head of state.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Lavrov stated, “The implementation of President Putin’s instruction during the Security Council meeting on November 5 is underway, and the public will be informed of the results.”
This grave and alarming decision comes as a direct response to the unexpected announcement by US President Donald Trump, who indicated that the United States would resume nuclear testing after a 33-year hiatus. On October 31, Trump announced the resumption but did not clarify whether these would be traditional underground detonations or other forms of tests. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump said, “You’ll find out very soon, we are going to be doing some testing.” He added that he had ordered the US military to immediately recommence the testing process, a move widely interpreted as a strong warning to rivals like China and Russia.
Meanwhile, Lavrov noted that Russia has not yet received any official clarification from the United States regarding President Trump’s controversial order.
US-Russian relations have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. Trump has canceled a planned summit with President Putin over the failure to end the conflict in Ukraine and has imposed new sanctions on the Russian government. This dangerous tit-for-tat situation casts a dark shadow over global stability and the future of international efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation, evoking the ghosts of the Cold War era.
