Russia moves to revoke nuclear test ban treaty
by AFP Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) Oct 17, 2023
Russian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to revoke Moscow's ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, moving closer to abandoning a landmark agreement that outlaws the testing of nuclear weapons.
The move comes after President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month he was "not ready to say" whether Russia needed to carry out live nuclear tests.
Lawmakers in the State Duma lower house of parliament unanimously approved the de-ratification bill in its first reading, with 412 voting for and none voting against.
The bill can be signed into law by Putin after passing three readings in the lower house and receiving approval in the upper house, although this is largely a formality.
The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) aimed to completely ban all nuclear tests.
It never came into force as it was not ratified by all required signatories, but it did have symbolic value and helped put an end to the more than 2,000 nuclear tests carried out during and shortly after the Cold War.
Both Russia and the United States signed the treaty in 1996, but while Moscow ratified it in 2000, Washington never took the final step of codifying it into law.
"For 23 years we have been waiting for the United States to ratify this treaty," Russia's top lawmaker Vyacheslav Volodin said ahead of the vote.
"But Washington, because of its double standards, its irresponsible attitude to global security issues, has not done so," he said.
- 'Threat to existence' -
Since the start of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine, Putin and other Russian officials have given mixed signals about the possible use of nuclear weapons in the conflict, prompting alarm in the West.
Putin mobilised Moscow's nuclear forces shortly after the conflict began and has repeatedly invoked Russia's nuclear doctrine, which allows the use of nuclear weapons if the state faces a "threat to its existence".
In February this year, Russia pulled out of a separate nuclear treaty with the United States known as New START, which aimed to limit the number of nuclear warheads both sides could deploy.
During the summer, Putin confirmed Russia had sent tactical nuclear arms to its ally Belarus and earlier this month announced the successful testing of a nuclear-powered cruise missile.
However, he told journalists at a political forum in Sochi this month that Russia had "no need" to change its nuclear doctrine.
"Why should we? Everything can be changed, I just don't see the need for it," he said.
"No person in his right mind and clear memory would think of using nuclear weapons against Russia," he added.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told reporters last week that Moscow would only resume nuclear tests if the United States did so first.
"We must ensure that our testing base is ready to resume testing activities," he was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
"But the resumption in practical terms is (only) possible after the relevant tests are carried out by the United States," he said.
The Soviet Union last carried out a nuclear test in 1990, while the United States' last test was in 1992.
Artificial Intelligence Analysis
Summary:
Russian lawmakers voted to revoke Moscows ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which aimed to completely ban nuclear tests. The move follows President Vladimir Putins statement that he was uncertain whether Russia needed to carry out live nuclear tests. The bill passed with 412 voting for and none against, and can be signed into law by Putin after receiving approval in the upper house.Economic, Environmental, and Safety Implications:
The immediate economic and environmental implications of revoking the treaty are unclear, as Russia has not conducted nuclear tests since 1990. However, the potential long-term economic and environmental implications of revoking the treaty are severe, as the testing of nuclear weapons poses a great risk to public health, safety, and the environment.Geopolitical and Societal Impacts:
Revoking the treaty may have geopolitical implications, as it could signal to other countries that Russia is willing to violate international treaties and agreements. It could also lead to an arms race, as other countries may feel the need to expand their nuclear arms capabilities in response to Russias actions. In addition, this move could also have a negative impact on public opinion of Russia, as it could be viewed as a sign of aggression and disregard for international law.
Conclusion
and Implications:
Russias move to revoke the nuclear test ban treaty has the potential to have serious economic, environmental, and safety implications, as well as geopolitical and societal impacts. This could result in an arms race and a worsening of international relations, as well as a decrease in public opinion of Russia.
Investigative Questions:
-What is the potential economic impact of Russia revoking the treaty?-What are the potential implications for international relations?-What are the possible long-term environmental and safety implications of revoking the treaty?
Comparison to Star Trek:
This situation is similar to the events of the Star Trek movie Star Trek Beyond, in which a war is sparked between the Federation and the alien race the Krall, due to the Kralls disregard for Federation law.
This AI report is generated by a sophisticated prompt to a ChatGPT API. Our editors clean text for presentation, but preserve AI thought for our collective observation. Please comment and ask questions about AI use by Spacedaily. We appreciate your support and contribution to better trade news.
