On November 5, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed his government to prepare proposals regarding the potential resumption of nuclear weapons testing. This move comes in direct response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent instruction to the Pentagon to conduct nuclear tests “on an equal basis” with other nations. The announcement has reignited international concerns about a possible new era of nuclear weapons development and testing, raising questions about global arms control efforts and the stability of established nuclear treaties.
Putin made his remarks during a meeting with Russia’s Security Council on Wednesday, emphasizing that Russia has so far remained compliant with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The treaty, which prohibits all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes, has been signed by nearly 180 countries, including Russia and the United States. However, Putin stressed that if the U.S. or any other party to the treaty were to resume nuclear testing, Russia would be compelled to take reciprocal measures. This statement signals a possible shift in Moscow’s nuclear policy, reflecting growing tensions and competition with the United States.
President Trump’s directive to the Pentagon was mentioned in an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” where he asserted that several countries, including Russia, China, North Korea, and Pakistan, have been conducting nuclear tests, though they do not publicly acknowledge these activities. Trump stated: “We’re gonna test, because they test and others test.” His comments suggest a desire to maintain parity with other nuclear powers, although the specifics of what type of testing he envisions remain unclear.
Historically, the United States has not conducted a nuclear test explosion since 1992. Trump’s remarks, therefore, have raised questions about whether he intends to authorize actual nuclear detonations or simply enhanced testing of nuclear weapons systems without full-scale explosions. This ambiguity has caused confusion among experts and officials alike. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council and former Russian president, expressed skepticism on social media, noting that “no one knows what Trump meant about ‘nuclear testing’ (he probably doesn’t himself).” Nonetheless, Medvedev warned that the consequences of such statements are significant and may push Russia toward conducting its own nuclear tests.
In response to Trump’s claims, China has firmly denied any secret nuclear testing. Similarly, a Pakistani official told CBS News that Pakistan “will not be the first to resume nuclear tests.” These denials challenge the narrative presented by the U.S. president and highlight the complexities involved in verifying nuclear test activities, which are often shrouded in secrecy.
Trump’s comments also contradict recent testimony from his own nominee to lead the U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM), the military command responsible for America’s nuclear arsenal. The nominee told lawmakers that neither Russia nor China is currently conducting nuclear explosive tests. This discrepancy has fueled debate about the accuracy and intent behind Trump’s statements.
It is worth noting that North Korea remains the only country known to have conducted nuclear detonations since the 1990s, with several tests carried out despite international condemnation. Russia’s last known nuclear explosive test occurred in 1990, while China’s was in 1996. Both countries have since observed a moratorium on nuclear test detonations, adhering in principle to the CTBT, though neither has ratified it. The United States has signed but not ratified the treaty either.
In a significant development related to nuclear arms control, Russia formally withdrew its ratification of the CTBT in 2023, a move that Putin highlighted during a period of rising tensions with the West. This withdrawal fueled speculation about Moscow’s willingness to resume nuclear explosive testing. Some hawkish members of the Russian parliament openly called for such tests, viewing them as necessary for maintaining Russia’s strategic deterrent.
In addition to discussions about testing, Russia has been actively developing and testing nuclear-capable and nuclear-powered weapons systems. However, it has not officially announced plans to conduct new nuclear test detonations. Putin has previously indicated that Russia would only consider resuming nuclear explosive tests if the United States were to do so first, suggesting a conditional approach to any potential testing resumption.
The topic of nuclear weapons use has also evolved in Russia’s official doctrine. One year ago, Putin approved amendments lowering the threshold for nuclear weapons use. The updated doctrine states that Russia would consider an attack by a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear-armed country, as a joint attack by both parties. This means that