Russia passes law to withdraw from ratification of nuclear test ban treaty

Subject: IR

Section: International Conventions

Context: Russian parliament’s upper house votes to revoke nuclear test ban treaty ratification

More about the news:

Russia’s upper house of parliament voted to revoke the country’s ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, originally signed in 1996 and ratified in 2000.
The move aims to align Russia with the U.S., which signed but never ratified the treaty.
Russian officials also cited Western support for Ukraine as a reason for this decision.
It’s important to note that this withdrawal does not signify an immediate return to nuclear weapons testing. Russia would only consider such action if the U.S. resumed testing.
The decision is seen as a means to pressure Western allies to reconsider their support for Ukraine amidst escalating tensions between Russia and the West.
Russian officials have previously alluded to the possibility of using nuclear weapons in the context of the Ukraine conflict.

What is Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT):

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) prohibits nuclear test explosions worldwide.
It was introduced in September 1996, signed by 187 nations, and ratified by 178.
However, for it to take full effect, 44 specific nations must ratify it, with eight, including India, China, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel, Iran, Egypt, and the United States, yet to do so.
The CTBT establishes a global monitoring network and allows on-site inspections for compliance.
Since its introduction, nuclear testing has become widely discouraged, with even non-ratifying states like India, Israel, and Pakistan observing moratoriums on nuclear testing.
While Russia ratified the agreement in 2000, the US is still to do so

How did CTBT come into Being:

Between 1945 and 1996, more than 2,000 nuclear tests were carried out — 1,032 of them by the United States and 715 of them by the Soviet Union, according to the UN.
Britain carried out 45 tests, France 210 and China 45.
The radioactive fallout from those tests drew criticism from around the globe. The international community’s concern about the effects on health and the environment continued to grow.
As a result, several attempts to curb the explosive tests were made.
The 1963 Limited Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (LTBT) was one of the first such attempts.It prohibited nuclear testing in the atmosphere, outer space, and underwater, but underground tests were still permitted.
A major breakthrough only came after the Cold War ended around 1990 and the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
As the geopolitical tensions simmered down, the UN took advantage of the situation and adopted the CTBT, which put a blanket ban on the explosive testing of nuclear weapons.

Why has India Refused to Sign the CTBT:

India’s interest in a nuclear test ban dates back to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s 1954 call for a halt in nuclear testing between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
However, this was thwarted due to verification concerns.
India’s stance on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is driven by national security interests, viewing nuclear weapons as a deterrent.
Signing the CTBT, it believes, would limit its strategic autonomy and ability to test, while prioritizing equitable global disarmament and national security.