The United States reserves the right to nuclear tests, but so far does not see them as necessary. This was stated by the US Special Representative for Arms Control Marshal Billingsley.
“No, I didn’t talk about revoking the CTBT signature (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty). I made it clear that the US Senate rejected the test ban treaty as being completely flawed, and the States are not part of it”, – Billingsley said.
He added that since 1992, when the United States introduced a moratorium on nuclear testing, the country “has and will have the opportunity to conduct nuclear tests if we see any reasons for this”.
“I am not aware of any reason to resume testing at this time. But I would not rule out such an opportunity, because why should we do this?” – the special representative said.
Billingsley also again accused Russia of conducting nuclear tests in violation of its obligations under the CTBT. Russia has repeatedly denied such allegations.
Note that the US has signed but not ratified the CTBT.