Global Nuclear Tensions Escalate as Russia and US Make Strategic Announcements

The world faces a rising nuclear threat, with six policy experts unanimously agreeing that recent developments signal a dangerous new phase in global security.

Russia's Weapon Systems

Sarmat ICBM

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Tuesday that the new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) would enter combat service by the end of the year, following a test launch. The Sarmat is designed to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda missile.

Putin described the Sarmat as "the most powerful missile in the world" and claimed its combined warhead power exceeds that of any Western counterpart by more than four times. He noted the missile has higher precision than its predecessor and is capable of suborbital flight with a range exceeding 35,000 kilometers.

The Sarmat development began in 2011. Prior to this test, it had only one known successful test and reportedly suffered a failure in 2024. The test occurred days after Putin claimed that the conflict in Ukraine is nearing an end.

Burevestnik Cruise Missile

President Putin announced Russia had tested the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered cruise missile, describing it as a "unique product, unmatched in the world" and noting its classification was still being determined. Moscow had previously announced a test of this missile, which it described as having "unlimited-range."

In 2019, an explosion that killed five Russian nuclear engineers was linked to the Burevestnik by some Russian and Western experts. The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) stated in 2021 that Russia faced "considerable technical challenges" in ensuring "the reliable performance of the nuclear-propulsion unit" of the missile.

Poseidon Underwater Drone

Putin highlighted the Poseidon, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable underwater drone, stating, "There is nothing like this." In 2018, Russian media reported the Poseidon would be capable of achieving a speed of 200km/h (120mph) and traveling in a "constantly changing route."

A senior Russian MP stated this drone could "put entire states out of operation." Both the Poseidon and the Burevestnik were initially presented in 2018. Mark Galeotti, a Russia scholar, characterized both weapons as second-strike, retaliatory systems.

Other Systems

Russia has also developed the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, the Oreshnik intermediate-range missile, and the Poseidon nuclear drone. Putin stated these weapons are a response to U.S. missile defense systems.

US Announcement on Nuclear Testing

President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he instructed the "Department of War" to start testing nuclear weapons "on an equal basis," citing testing programs by other countries. He indicated this process would "begin immediately."

The announcement occurred before a scheduled meeting with the Chinese president. Subsequent comments from Trump indicated nuclear test sites would be determined later. The White House has not issued clarifications regarding whether the testing refers to nuclear delivery systems or the weapons themselves.

This would mark the first US nuclear test in 33 years, with resumption expected to take several months.

Expert Perspectives on Global Nuclear Threat

Six policy experts interviewed by the BBC discussed the implications of potential nuclear weapons testing. While one expert disagreed that Trump's comments would have a major impact, and another did not believe the US was provoking an arms race, all six experts stated that the world faces a rising nuclear threat.

Jamie Kwong, a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, expressed concern that such testing could initiate a "domino effect" among nuclear-armed states, given the decades without such tests (excluding North Korea). Kwong also stated the US, Russia, and China are potentially entering a period that could become an arms race.

Darya Dolzikova, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), indicated that Trump's comments would significantly alter the situation. She also stated that other global dynamics have raised the risks of nuclear exchange and proliferation to levels not seen in decades. Dolzikova described Trump's message as "a drop in a much larger bucket," with concerns about that "bucket overfilling."

Geopolitical Context

The announcements concerning these weapons followed shifts in US-Russia diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine. A planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Putin was cancelled after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly concluded that differences between Moscow and Washington were too significant for a high-level meeting to yield results.

Subsequently, the US imposed sanctions on two Russian oil producers, citing Moscow's failure to agree on a peace deal in Ukraine.

David Heathcote, head of intelligence at McKenzie Intelligence Services, suggested these announcements could be viewed in the context of Russia's conventional forces given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Status of Nuclear Arms Control

The last nuclear arms treaty between Russia and the U.S. expired in February, leaving no caps on the two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in over 50 years.

The last existing nuclear treaty between the US and Russia, which limits deployed nuclear arsenals, is scheduled to expire in February of the coming year.

International Reactions

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, responded by questioning whether the US president had been correctly informed, stating that the Russian tests "cannot in any way be interpreted as a nuclear test."

Christopher Egerton of the Institute for Strategic Studies (IIS) suggested Trump's decision was likely a direct response to Russia's Burevestnik test, potentially leading to US flight tests of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.