Washington (KAAB TV) – This week brought critical developments in nuclear-weapons diplomacy and signalling. Two major announcements have shifted the global landscape.
Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had successfully tested a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone/torpedo system.
Specifically, he claimed that the device—known as Poseidon—was launched from a submarine, its reactor activated, and that it could strike coastal regions via a massive radioactive wave.
In subsequent remarks, Putin also referenced a successful test of the nuclear-powered cruise missile Burevestnik (also called SSC-X-9 “Skyfall”) that flew ~14,000 km in about 15 hours.
In response, Donald Trump declared via social media that the United States Department of Defense (mis-referred to as “Department of War”) has been instructed to “immediately” begin testing the U.S. nuclear-weapons arsenal “on an equal basis” with other countries.
He wrote:
“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.”
Trump claimed that the U.S. “has more nuclear weapons than any other country … this was accomplished … during my First Term in office.”