Russia’s parliament today voted to revoke the government’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign the bill. Should ratification be revoked, Russia will remain a signatory to the treaty.
Below is a statement by Dr. Tara Drozdenko, director of the Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
“Given current science, there’s simply no reason for Russia, or any other country, to ever conduct explosive nuclear tests again. Thanks to extensive monitoring tools, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty provides concrete assurance that any country conducting an explosive nuclear test will be caught and is an important constraint on a growing global arms race.
“The international community should urge Russia in the strongest possible terms to maintain its ratification and reaffirm its support for the test ban treaty. The United States and the other nations that have signed but not ratified the treaty should reinforce the norms against testing by immediately ratifying the treaty.
“Reciprocal monitoring can assuage concerns and provide confidence that activities undertaken at nuclear testing sites—in the United States, Russia and China—aren't explosive tests. This would help squash any race to return to testing.”