Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened that Moscow would respond in kind to any other country’s nuclear weapons testing. The remarks followed President Donald Trump’s order to the Pentagon to begin nuclear testing.
Last month, Trump directed the Department of War to test a nuclear weapon in a Truth Social post. The Department of Energy said Washington has no plans to detonate a nuclear warhead. In an interview with TASS published on Monday, Lavrov said that Russia is still “waiting for clarifications” on Washington’s nuclear testing policy.
“It’s well known, and it’s a very dangerous game.” He added that if one of the nuclear powers conducts nuclear weapons tests, Russia will do the same.”
The threats from the two largest nuclear powers to resume testing their most destructive weapons come as US and Russian relations are at an all-time low. Washington and Moscow are locked in a proxy war in Ukraine with no end in sight, and diplomatic contacts are at a minimum.
Additionally, nearly all arms control pacts between the US and Russia have been dissolved. The last remaining treaty is New Start, and will expire in February. Lavrov explained Russia has proposed expanding the pact for another year, but Moscow has not received a commitment from Washington.
The Russian Foreign Minister also weighed in on Trump’s threats against Venezuela. He argued the US policy was misguided, and “will not elevate Washington’s reputation in the eyes of the world community.” Lavrov added, “It would be wiser for the United States to try and exterminate this phenomenon in Belgium.”
