In a show of the “readiness of US nuclear forces” the White House has confirmed they have test launched the “Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile” (ICBM).
The US military confirmed that they test fired the unarmed nuclear ICBM after delaying the routine tests amid Russian’s invasion of Ukraine and then the Chinese Taiwan crisis.
The US Defence Department said the postponement of test shows how “a responsible nuclear nation should behave,” sending a subtle message to Vladimir Putin.
The Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in March the international community saw Putin’s actions as “dangerous and irresponsible,” by his invasion and by placing his nuclear forces on operational readiness, but Washington wanted to be clear and for their action not to be “misconstrued.”
Kirby said, “So, in an effort to demonstrate that we have no intention of engaging in any actions that can be misunderstood or misconstrued, the secretary of defence has directed that our Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch scheduled for this week to be postponed.”
He added, “We did not take this decision lightly, but instead to demonstrate that we are a responsible nuclear power.”
He once again reiterated this was in the interest of being a “responsible nuclear power.
He said, “As China engages in destabilizing military exercises around Taiwan, the United States is demonstrating instead the behaviour of a responsible nuclear power by reducing the risks of miscalculation and misperception.”
He continued, “We do not believe it is in our interest, Taiwan’s interest, the region’s interests, to allow tensions to escalate further, which is why a long-planned Minuteman III ICBM test scheduled for this week has been rescheduled for the near future.”
