Putin's Nuclear Crisis - February 2023
On 08 February 2023, Vyacheslav Solovyov, scientific director of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center - All-Russian Research Institute of Experimental Physics, told TASS that the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site, if necessary and with the appropriate political will, is ready to resume nuclear testing. He explained that "there is a special program to maintain the readiness of the range." The test site on Novaya Zemlya is under the jurisdiction of the 12th Main Directorate of the RF Ministry of Defense. On its territory from September 21, 1955 to October 24, 1990, 130 tests were carried out: 88 atmospheric, 3 underwater and 39 underground.
START is the only Russian-American nuclear arms control regime. Its validity expires in 2026. Moscow and Washington began to agree on the parameters of a future agreement on the limitation of nuclear weapons, but the dialogue was interrupted after the start of a military special operation in Ukraine. The agreement between Russia and the United States on measures to further reduce and limit strategic offensive arms was signed on April 8, 2010 in Prague ( Czech Republic ). It replaced the 1991 START Treaty (START) and, upon entry into force, replaced the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SNRT). On February 3, 2021, Moscow and Washington exchanged notes on the completion of the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of an agreement to extend the contract for five years.
A day after US President Joe Biden's historic visit to the war-torn Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a nuclear warning to the west. Putin on 21 February 2023 announced that Moscow was suspending the major remaining nuclear arms control treaty, called the New START treaty, with the US amidst tensions with Washington over the invasion of Ukraine. At his state of the nation address, Putin also said that Russia would resume nuclear weapons tests if the US does so—a decision that would likely spark renewed global nuclear arms race between the two superpower nations. “They want to inflict a strategic defeat on us and claim our nuclear facilities,” the Russian president was quoted as saying, according to Reuters news agency. “In this regard, I am forced to state that Russia is suspending its participation in the strategic offensive arms treaty.” Under the New START treaty, United States and Russia had pledged to limit the two sides' strategic nuclear arsenals.
He argued that while the US has pushed for the resumption of inspections of Russian nuclear facilities under the treaty, NATO allies had helped Ukraine mount drone attacks on Russian air bases hosting nuclear-capable strategic bombers. “Now, through NATO representatives, they are putting forward, in fact, an ultimatum: you, Russia, must fulfil everything that you have agreed on, including the Start treaty, and we will behave as we please.”
He slammed NATO’s support for Ukraine, and claimed the west was seeking a “strategic defeat” of Russia. He also claimed the US was seeking to rewrite the post-second world war security architecture, “to build an American-style world where there is only one master”.
On 08 August 2022, Russia had announced that it will no longer allow the US to conduct inspections of Russian facilities under the auspices of the New START treaty. A statement released by Russia's Foreign Ministry says the move was carried out in accordance with a clause in the Protocol to the New START, which stipulates such actions can be performed in exceptional cases and for the sake of goals that do not contradict the treaty. "On August 8, 2022, the Russian Federation officially informed the United States of America through diplomatic channels that our country was temporarily withdrawing its facilities subject to inspections under this Treaty from inspection activities under the New START. This exemption also applies to facilities where screenings stipulated by the Treaty may be held," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry pointed out that Russia notified the US that the anti-Russian sanctions enacted by Washington had upset the parity in the inspections conducted under the auspices of the New START, but received no reply from the US side.
"As a result of the anti-Russian unilateral restrictive measures taken at Washington's initiative, regular air traffic between Russia and the United States was interrupted, and the airspace of states that are allies and partners of the United States was closed to Russian aircraft delivering Russian inspection teams to points of entry on the US territory," the ministry said, noting that "there are no similar obstacles to the arrival of US inspectors in Russia."
The Ministry of Defense (MO) of the Russian Federation and Rosatom should prepare to conduct nuclear tests if necessary, but Moscow will not be the first to conduct them, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a message to the Federal Assembly. The President stressed that the Russian side knows "all the ins and outs" of the United States about the expiration of the warranty period for the combat use of certain types of nuclear weapons and that in this regard, "some figures in Washington" are already thinking about "the possibilities of natural tests of their nuclear weapons, in including taking into account the fact that the United States is developing new types of nuclear weapons: there is such information.
"In this situation (of ideas in the United States to test nuclear weapons - TASS note), the Russian Ministry of Defense and Rosatom must ensure readiness for testing Russian nuclear weapons. Of course, we will not be the first to do this, but if the United States conducts tests, then we let's do it," the head of state said. "No one should have dangerous illusions that global strategic parity can be destroyed," Putin summed up.
The task set by Russian President Vladimir Putin to resume nuclear tests in Russia, if necessary, will be fulfilled - the test site on Novaya Zemlya is maintained in readiness for the resumption of work. This was reported to TASS by a source close to the military department. "The task set by the President of Russia to prepare for nuclear tests will certainly be fulfilled. The Novaya Zemlya test site has always been maintained and is maintained in readiness for the resumption of nuclear tests, if necessary," he said. The United Kingdom called on Russia to reconsider its move to suspend its last remaining arms control treaty with the United States. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson said that the United Kingdom hopes " Putin reconsiders his rash decision to suspend Russia's participation in the New START treaty... Arms control is vital to the security of our planet".
Reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear warning, united States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the decision to suspend the nuclear treaty was irresponsible. "The announcement by Russia that it's suspending participation is deeply unfortunate and irresponsible," Blinken said while talking to the Press in Athens. "We'll be watching carefully to see what Russia actually does. We’ll of course make sure that in any event, we are postured appropriately for the security of our own country and that of our allies," he added.
France’s foreign ministry called on Russia to “show responsibility” and reverse its decision to suspend participation in the New START nuclear arms treaty. “The New START Treaty is an essential instrument in the international architecture of nuclear arms control and strategic stability”, the ministry said in a statement.
Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said he was disappointed with Moscow's decision to suspend participation in START-3, believing that the world would be in a more difficult position without this agreement. "As someone who helped negotiate START III, I'm disappointed by Putin's decision today to abandon it. The US, Russia and the world will be worse off without him," McFaul tweeted.
Russia's decision to suspend participation in the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty destroys the international security system, said EU diplomat Josep Borrell. "The decision that Russia made on the START destroys the system of international security created after the Cold War. <...> After this decision, we need to think about new measures in international security," he said after talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and NATO Secretary General in Brussels .
Russia said it will observe curbs imposed by the New START treaty, hours after President Vladimir Putin announced Moscow was suspending participation in the arms pact with the United States. "Russia intends to adhere to a responsible approach and will continue to strictly comply with the quantitative restrictions on strategic offensive arms stipulated by it (New START) within the life cycle of the treaty," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Putin's comments on suspending the New START treaty and focusing the country's attention on boosting its nuclear forces raised concerns that Moscow might be headed toward preparing for a nuclear war. However, in response to the growing fears, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov held a conference call with reporters, stressing that suspension of the treaty does not increase the risk of a nuclear war. Instead, Peskov added that Moscow is willing to return to adhering to the treaty, as soon as the West is ready to consider Russia's concerns.
In a video address marking the Defender of the Fatherland holiday in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said his country will now pay increased attention to boosting its nuclear forces, while equipping its armed forces with the latest advanced equipment and weapons. This includes Russia's plans to begin mass deliveries of Zirkon sea-launched hypersonic missiles. His comments came just a day after he announced that Russia will be suspending the New START nuclear weapons control treaty between Moscow and Washington.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
