Parliament approved Russia’s withdrawal from the nuclear test ban treaty

Its parliament of Russia today finished passing the law revoking Moscow’s ratification of the global test ban treaty nuclear weapons.

The upper house, the Council of the Federation, approved the law unanimously (by a vote of 156-0)after the also its unanimous approval by the lower house, the State Duma. It now goes to President Vladimir Putin for signature.

Putin called on lawmakers earlier this month to make the change to “reflect” the position of the United States, which signed but never ratifiedthe Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).

Russia says it will not repeat nuclear tests unless Washington doesbut arms control experts worry it could be moving toward a test the West would perceive as a threatening escalation in the war in Ukraine, which Moscow accuses of stepping up “nuclear blackmail.”

Arms control experts say that a test by either Russia or the United States could spark a new arms race at a time of heightened international tension, with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. They say if one country goes ahead with a test, another will likely do the same, and others such as China, India and Pakistan could follow.

CNN broadcast satellite images last month showing how Russia, the United States and China have built new facilities at their nuclear test sites recent years.

The US Department of Energy announced last week that it conducted a chemical detonation at its Nevada nuclear test site “in order to improve the United States’ ability to detect low-yield explosions around the world.”

Speaking to Russian lawmakers ahead of today’s vote, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the Nevada blast was “undoubtedly a political signal.” “As our president said, we have to be vigilant, and if the United States moves to begin nuclear testing, we should respond here in kind.”he said.