Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a Bill revoking Russia’s ratification of a global nuclear test ban, a move that Russia said was needed to establish parity with the United States.
- Both houses of the Russian parliament voted in October 2023 to revoke Moscow’s ratification of the Bill.
- Russia has said that rescinding the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, also known as the CTBT, would “mirror” the stand taken by the U.S., which has signed but not ratified the nuclear test ban.
About Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
- The CTBT, adopted in 1996, bans all nuclear explosions anywhere in the world, but the treaty was never fully implemented.
- The CTBT will formally enter into force after 44 designated “nuclear-capable states” (as listed in Annex 2 of the treaty) have deposited their instruments of ratification with the UN secretary-general.
- To date, 186 states have signed and 174 have ratified the treaty. Of the 44 specified countries, India, Pakistan, and North Korea still have not signed, and only 36 have ratified the treaty.
