The United States on Wednesday denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “provocative rhetoric” on nuclear weapons and announced, for “responsibility”, the postponement of the test-launch of a ballistic missile that was scheduled for this week.
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The head of US diplomacy, Anthony Blinken, said that Putin’s announcement last week to put Russia’s nuclear forces, which possess the largest number of nuclear warheads, on a “special state of alert” was “the height of irresponsibility.”
The foreign minister stressed during a press conference that such rhetoric is “dangerous and increases the risk of confusion and should be avoided.”
The Pentagon also considered the Russian announcement, as well as “potential changes in the nuclear posture involving key weapons in our arsenals”, as “unacceptable.”
Defense Department spokesman John Kirby has announced the postponement of the test-fire of an intercontinental ballistic missile dubbed the Minuteman III, scheduled for this week.
Mr. Kirby explained during a news conference that the postponement was intended to “prove” that Washington “has no intention of engaging in an act that could be misinterpreted.”
In this time of tension, the spokesman said, “It is essential that the United States and Russia consider the risks of miscalculation and make sure that these risks are minimized,” stressing that Washington wants “to prove that we are responsible for nuclear energy.”
The spokesman stressed that the cancellation of these exercises “has no impact on our strategic nuclear position and our deterrent force.”
