Putin Showcases Nuclear Torpedo “Poseidon” Amidst Diplomatic Tensions with the United States
The new “Poseidon” nuclear torpedo will be carried by Russia’s nuclear submarines (Wikimedia Commons).
Poseidon, King of the Seas, has incurred a new meaning—and it is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest show of power. On October 27, Russia tested Poseidon, a “nuclear-powered super torpedo” with capabilities to allegedly trigger intense, radioactive tsunamis, devastating the coasts of its enemies, according to Reuters. This development comes in the wake of recent tense diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously refused dialogue with Russia regarding nuclear deterrence, citing a need to focus on ending the war in Ukraine first, a sentiment Putin does not share.
This nuclear warhead, virtually undetectable by sonar systems, can reach two megatons and travel at speeds of 200 kilometers per hour, according to Verstka. Putin officially unveiled the torpedo in 2018, though the United States was aware of its existence as early as 2015, according to the BBC. Intended as a “second-strike” weapon, the torpedo is a doomsday weapon—capable of striking even in the instance that Russian command centers are decimated.
The weapon is unique in that it “defies traditional classifications”—it is not an intercontinental ballistic missile, heavy bomber, or submarine-launched ballistic missile; therefore, it does not fall under quotas outlined in nuclear arms agreements, according to The Washington Post. It both “requires its own purpose-built submarine to launch it” and is an “unmanned underwater vessel… powered by a nuclear reactor.” Its distinct lack of a classification is dangerous—Putin is not limited in the development, testing, or quantity produced of this advanced weaponry by existing nuclear arms agreements.
But why now? It is important to note that the carriers for Poseidon and other nuclear torpedoes will be nuclear submarines like the Belgorod and Khabarovsk, which are already capable of destroying cities independently without the aid of advanced weaponry like Poseidon. In addition, it would make sense for the Kremlin to hide these types of nuclear weapon tests, which should be “extremely secret.”
The Poseidon test is a clear show of military strength and a potential bargaining chip. Although strategically unnecessary for nuclear deterrence considering Russia’s existing nuclear capabilities, Moscow could use Poseidon’s status as a “Franken-weapon” to its advantage, threatening further development of this weapon “outside the international control system,” according to The Washington Post, In the face of President Trump’s inconsistent and constantly shifting sympathies towards Russia and Ukraine, this can also be interpreted as a method to “[keep Trump] thinking Russia is indeed powerful… [and show that] Moscow has bigger cards than Kyiv,” according to the BBC. Trump’s recent hostility towards Russia is duly noted: on October 23, the White House imposed sanctions on two Russian oil producers; on October 30, Trump announced a resumption of nuclear testing; on October 31, the White House cancelled a long-awaited Trump-Putin summit.
Even during this period of intense escalating tensions, on November 10, Sergey Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he was prepared to hold a “face-to-face meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.” This is a sign of potential for opening diplomatic channels, although Russia still refuses to yield to hard-line demands like returning Ukrainian territory it currently occupies. For now, it seems Russia and the United States’ displays of power are just that—displays. Yet this does not undermine—in fact, it underscores—the urgent need for a diplomatic solution to the Russo-Ukrainian war, and, more broadly, fraying Russo-Western relations.