Pavel K. Baev
Executive Summary:
Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated his nuclear brinkmanship, announcing tests of new weapons, such as the Burevestnik and Poseidon weapon systems.
After these tests, U.S. President Donald Trump unexpectedly responded by ordering the United States to prepare for resumed nuclear testing “on an equal basis” with Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Much of Putin’s nuclear posturing is aimed at eroding European solidarity with Ukraine by intensifying anti-nuclear sentiments on the continent. The strategy may backfire, however, by way of angering the United States and the PRC.
Last week was supposed to mark a significant step forward in Russia’s application of nuclear policy, which constitutes its key geopolitical asset in the 21st century. Instead, Moscow commentators were taken aback over U.S. President Donald Trump’s message on resuming nuclear testing “immediately” and also “on an equal basis” with Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) (RBC, October 30). Russia’s most knowledgeable experts have not been able to discern whether the U.S. Department of Defense was ordered to execute a series of tests of nuclear devices at the Nevada test site or to expand testing of delivery systems for nuclear warheads (RIAC, October 31). It was clear that a sequence of statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin on testing new and, in his assessment, technologically unique nuclear-capable weapon systems prompted Trump to issue the ambiguous order (Meduza, October 30). It was also clear that Putin sought to solicit a very different response.
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