US and Russia urged not to conduct nuclear tests

Key Points:

• Robert Floyd, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization, warned that if the U.S., Russia, or any other nation resumes nuclear testing, it could trigger an unstoppable global testing spiral.
• The CTBT, adopted in 1996, has not entered into force because nine key countries, including the U.S., China, Iran, Egypt, Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea, and Russia, have not ratified it; Russia revoked its ratification in 2023.
• Despite China and Russia claiming adherence to a nuclear testing moratorium, the U.S. has expressed concerns about their activities, with former President Trump threatening to resume U.S. nuclear tests to match them.
• Floyd emphasized the need for the U.S., Russia, and China to ratify the treaty together, calling it a crucial step forward, and highlighted the treaty’s monitoring system’s ability to detect any nuclear test globally.
• Floyd has engaged with Russian and U.S. officials to discourage nuclear testing, stressing that an unconstrained return to testing is against all states' interests.