The United States and Russia each implemented unilateral
test moratoriums nearly three decades ago. But today, there are serious
questions about whether they might choose to resume nuclear testing. To better
understand the dangers of a return to nuclear testing, and opportunities for
transparency and confidence-building measures to prevent this, the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) has produced an interactive tour of
Russia’s Central Testing Ground at Novaya Zemlya, an archipelago in the Arctic
Ocean.
The interactive
tour and accompanying article
by CNS’ Jeffrey Lewis offer an unparalleled look at historical and current
activities at Russia’s Central Testing Ground, with frequent reference to
similar activities at the U.S. Nevada National Security Site. Comparing the
U.S. and Russian test sites helps illustrate how both countries approached
nuclear testing during the Cold War, how they manage their stockpiles today in
an era without explosive testing, and the continuing importance of arms control
to prevent a return to the shared dangers of an arms race.
Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on nuclear and biological threats.
New START, the last remaining arms control treaty capping U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals, expires on February 5. This marks the beginning of a dangerous new era. For the first time in several decades, there will be no limits on nuclear weapons, less visibility into Russian nuclear weapons activities, and fewer tools to manage a crisis between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
NTI encourages the United States and the Russian Federation to continue to abide by New START’s limits on intercontinental-range nuclear weapons past its scheduled expiration on February 5, 2026.
Participants examined how NWFZs can be productive geopolitical tools amid mounting challenges, including great power competition, disruptive technologies, and a weakening global nonproliferation and disarmament architecture.
Sign up for regular updates on innovative, real-world solutions to existential threats.
