The U.S. Air Force’s test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was scheduled far in advance, and the timing was not in response to global events, U.S. Air Force Major Gen. Jason Armagost, the commander of the U.S. Eighth Air Force and Joint Global Strike Operations Center told Newsmax on Thursday.

Still, Wednesday’s launch, coming about two weeks after Russia’s nuclear training maneuvers two weeks ago, does equate to messages from both sides and helps focus on deterrence, Armagost said on Newsmax’s “Wake Up America.”

“It’s a little of both,” he said when asked if the test launches, along with NATO doing exercises, are disconnected.

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