US 'deeply concerned' by Russia's decision to withdraw from global nuclear test ban treaty

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US is "deeply concerned" by Russia's withdrawal from the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and said it will "serve to set back confidence in the international arms control regime."

"We are deeply concerned by Russia’s planned action to withdraw its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Unfortunately, it represents a significant step in the wrong direction, taking us further from, not closer to, entry into force," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Blinken said the US appreciates similar statements of concern expressed by other states.

"The United States remains committed to achieving the entry into force of the CTBT, and we reiterate our commitment to our zero-yield nuclear explosive testing moratorium, which has been in place for 30 years," he added.

The CTBT is an international treaty envisioning the banning of nuclear weapons tests and any other nuclear explosions.

The US and Russia signed the 1996 agreement before Moscow went through the ratification process while the US refrained.