With the signing of a decree enacting a law on the withdrawal of Russia’s ratification of the United Nations (UN) Treaty on the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban (CTBT), Russian President Vladimir Putin officially withdrew from all Russian commitments related to this treaty. Has been abolished.
The CTBT was committed to by 178 countries around the world in 1996, but has not yet officially entered into force because there are not enough countries to sign and ratify it. In 2000, Russia ratified it while neither the US nor China did so. From now on, Russia is no different from America and China in this aspect.
In addition to the CTBT, the United Nations also has the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which was signed in 1968 and has been in effect since 1970. The US, Russia and China all participate in the NPT.
There is a parallel between the two UN treaties mentioned above and the bilateral agreements between the US and the former Soviet Union (and today Russia), regarding nuclear testing, nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. All these bilateral agreements are no longer valid due to unilateral cancellation by either party.
Russian President Vladimir Putin watched a simultaneous drill of nuclear response capabilities from air, sea and land on October 25. Photo: Reuters
Therefore, nuclear attitudes in the world actually changed fundamentally quite early, until Russia revoked its ratification of the CTBT.
But Russia’s new move mentioned above has deepened its influence on world politics and security, as US and West relations with Russia and China have become strained in recent years. The direct and violent resistance is unprecedented since the end of the Cold War.
What is new in the current nuclear situation compared to before is that the issue of nuclear disarmament between the US and Russia has completely broken down in practice. The development, deployment, and threat of use of nuclear weapons is politicized in relations between many countries, having a direct impact on world politics.
The new atomic currency also has three unique features.
FirstFrom now on there will be no separate issue of nuclear weapons disarmament and control between America and Russia. If, at some point in the future, the process of nuclear disarmament and control is restarted, it will certainly include the nuclear weapons capabilities of China and some other countries. Nuclear weapons disarmament and control has now become not a bilateral but a global issue.
monday, There will be many countries that will start promoting their own nuclear programs. While the United States and Russia continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals, countries that already possess nuclear weapons will also strengthen their capabilities.
All these countries will reshape their own nuclear doctrine and strategy to ensure security and create a strategic trump card to serve their foreign relations and role in the international arena.
Tuesday, The actual impact of the NPT treaty is not affected at the moment, but this does not mean that the NPT will not be threatened in the future.
Furthermore, the outcome of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the confrontation between Russia and the West, will determine whether this new nuclear stance will lead to nuclear conflict.
