Russian upper house approves de-ratification of nuclear test ban treaty

The Russian parliament’s upper chamber has given its approval for a law that withdraws Moscow’s ratification of the global nuclear test ban treaty. This move signifies the final step before the law is sent to President Vladimir Putin for his signature. The approval by the Federation Council was unanimous, with 156 votes in favor and zero against.

If the law is signed by President Putin, it would mean that Russia will no longer be a party to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which it originally ratified in 2000. The treaty, which bans all nuclear explosions, has been signed by 184 countries and ratified by 168, aiming to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

This decision by Russia comes amidst growing tensions with Western countries, especially the United States, over arms control treaties. The United States recently withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), which had been in place since 1987. Russia responded by suspending its own participation in the treaty, citing the U.S. as the reason for its withdrawal.

The Russian government has expressed concerns about the CTBT’s effectiveness, arguing that the treaty has not been fully implemented by all parties, including the United States. Russia claims that in order for the treaty to be truly effective, all nuclear powers should be signatories and adhere to its provisions.

Despite the withdrawal from the CTBT, Russia insists that it remains committed to nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation efforts. The country stated that it will continue to work towards its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which it has been a signatory to since 1968.

However, critics of Russia’s decision fear that this move may undermine global efforts to curb nuclear weapons. They argue that by withdrawing from the CTBT, Russia sends a message that it is not fully committed to the goal of a nuclear-free world.

Supporters of the law believe that Russia’s withdrawal highlights the need for a comprehensive reassessment of current arms control treaties. They argue that these treaties need to be updated and modernized to address current geopolitical realities and emerging technologies that have the potential to disrupt nuclear deterrence mechanisms.

The next step in the process will be for President Putin to sign the law into effect. It remains to be seen how this move will impact global efforts towards disarmament and undermine the existing arms control framework.

(Reporting by Filipp Lebedev; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)