Material updated on May 27, 2024 at 07:30
Different countries around the world have once again turned to the topic of nuclear weapons. They demonstrated their capabilities to strategically deter a potential enemy. Among the countries that have conducted such maneuvers in the past week are France, the USA, and Russia. North Korea has announced an increase in readiness for nuclear deterrence.
France tests the ASMPA missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead
The head of the French Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, announced on May 22 that the military had conducted the first test of the updated ASMPA missile, capable of carrying a nuclear charge.
According to him, the Dassault Rafale aircraft successfully launched a modernized ASMPA supersonic nuclear missile without an onboard payload. The test was conducted as part of the tasks outlined in the law on military planning, which involves nuclear deterrence. The head of the French Armed Forces added that the launch took place during the Durandal exercises, which will end on June 14.
Subcritical nuclear tests in the USA
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the US Department of Energy announced on May 16 that it had conducted a subcritical nuclear test at the Nevada test site. The experiment took place within the walls of an underground laboratory.
The experiment was the first in a series conducted in collaboration with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The series will also be supported by the Los Alamos National Laboratory
These tests provoked a negative reaction from Japanese public figures, who recalled the tragedies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The mayor of Hiroshima called the actions of the United States unforgivable, as it contradicts the desire of people to completely destroy nuclear weapons.
North Korea's reaction to nuclear tests in the USA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Korea stated on May 20 that the US experiments are forcing the country to take retaliatory measures.
In order to prepare for the strategic instability created in the region and on a global scale due to the unilateral actions of the United States, we are forced to take the necessary measures to increase overall readiness for nuclear deterrence.
The ministry stressed that the US tests are destabilizing the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Maneuvers with the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons in Russia
The first stage of exercises on the preparation and use of non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons, in which Iskander complexes are involved, started in the Southern Military District (SMD) on May 21. It is expected that the Russian Aerospace Forces will also practice equipping Kinzhal hypersonic missiles with special warheads.
The Iskander OTRK is the strike force of the Russian army. The missiles of these complexes are equipped with a nuclear warhead. After the salvo, the installation leaves the firing position even before the missile reaches its target. The range of the Iskander missiles is 500 km.
According to President Vladimir Putin, the exercises with the use of nuclear weapons will take place in three stages. At the second stage, Belarusian colleagues will join the Russian military.
The Russian authorities emphasized that the exercises are a forced measure in response to the provocative statements of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Belarus has already received two components of the nuclear triad from Russia: aviation and ground-based. In 2023, Russian tactical nuclear weapons were deployed on the territory of the republic. The President of Belarus claimed that it is more powerful than what US Air Force bombers dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Added
Employees of the US Department of Defense took part in exercises to combat nuclear, chemical and biological threats in Armenia. This was reported in the Security Council of the republic. Maneuvers of state administration bodies responsible for preventing such emergencies took place in Yerevan from May 20 to 24.
The exercises are conducted as part of the fight against weapons of mass destruction (WMD) under the coordination of the staff of the Security Council of Armenia and with the support of the Threat Reduction Agency of the US Department of Defense.
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