Russia is withdrawing from the nuclear test ban pact. USA is disturbed
6:07 AM EDT, October 7, 2023
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative in the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) organization, announced on Friday that Moscow intends to withdraw its ratification of the treaty to be "on equal footing with the USA". The United States signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, but did not ratify it. Washington has already condemned Moscow's announcement.
Russia ratified the CTBTO in 2000. Ulyanov noted that withdrawing from the Treaty does not mean that Russia will resume testing nuclear weapons.
The day before, the possibility of Russia revoking the ratification of the treaty was suggested by Vladimir Putin.
As emphasized by the Associated Press, Ulyanov's statement has further heightened tensions between Russia and the US, which are already very high due to Russia's aggression towards Ukraine and disputes over other arms limitation agreements.
"Threatening move by Russia. There is a reaction from the USA."
Russia's decision was met with a reaction from Washington. "We are disturbed by the comments of Ambassador Ulyanov in Vienna today. A move like this by any State Party needlessly endangers the global norm against nuclear explosive testing," announced a representative of the State Department, quoted by the Associated Press (AP).
He suggested that the actual goal of Moscow is to increase pressure on the US and other countries to halt weapons supplies and other assistance to Ukraine defending itself against Russian aggression.
AP notes that, although the United States has not ratified the CTBT agreement, it has been observing an informal moratorium on nuclear weapons testing since 1992 and has no intention of resuming them.
Moscow withdraws from the international agreement
The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, signed by 187 countries on September 24, 1996 in New York, imposes a complete ban on nuclear testing. So far, it has been ratified by 178 countries. However, for it to come into effect, ratification by 44 countries mentioned in the text of the treaty is required. So far, the ratification process has been completed by 34 of them.
China, Egypt, Iran, and Israel signed the agreement, but did not ratify it. North Korea, India, and Pakistan did not sign the agreement.
