Japanese premier regrets Russia’s decision to revoke CTBT ratification
“It is extremely regrettable, because it runs counter to the international community’s years-long effort aimed at ensuring that the treaty enters force and becomes universal,” Kishida said
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described Russia’s decision to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as “extremely regrettable” in a statement, posted on the X social network (formerly known as Twitter).
“It is extremely regrettable, because it runs counter to the international community’s years-long effort aimed at ensuring that the treaty enters force and becomes universal,” Kishida said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier signed a law according to which Russia withdraws ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Moscow signed the treaty in New York on September 24, 1996, and ratified it on May 27, 2000. The pact was designed to become the main tool of international law to stop any kind of nuclear testing. However, to date, the treaty has not entered into force, as it has not been ratified by 8 out of 44 states that have nuclear weapons or the potential to build them.
A memo to the law said the legislation aims to restore parity in nuclear arms control commitments. It however said that while the law provides a legal basis for Russia to revoke the ratification, it does not mean the country is withdrawing from the CTBT.
