President Donald Trump has directed the US Defense Department to immediately
resume nuclear weapons testing, citing other countries’ testing programs as
justification. The decision comes after decades of voluntary moratorium and
ahead of Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Trump Announces Resumption of Nuclear Testing
As reported by Joe Walsh of CBS News, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, just before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, that he has ordered the Pentagon to restart nuclear weapons testing “on an equal basis” with other nations. Trump made the announcement via a post on Truth Social, stating,
“Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately”.
Context and Rationale Behind the Decision
According to Yenisafak, Trump acknowledged the United States’ long-standing nuclear superiority and referenced the modernisation and renovation of the US nuclear arsenal that took place during his first term. However, he expressed concerns about other countries narrowing this gap, mentioning specifically,
“Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years”
. He added,
“Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice!”.
The directive breaks a voluntary US moratorium on nuclear
testing that has been observed since 1992, when the last American nuclear test
was conducted in Nevada under President George H.W. Bush’s moratorium following
the Cold War.
International Nuclear Test Landscape
Trump’s announcement highlights ongoing nuclear developments
worldwide. Russia has not conducted a nuclear test since 1990, but President
Vladimir Putin recently unveiled tests of a new atomic-powered underwater drone
and a nuclear-capable cruise missile. China last tested a nuclear weapon in
1996. The renewed US testing order is framed as a response to these
advancements among global competitors, aiming to maintain parity and strategic
superiority.
Strategic and Diplomatic Implications
The political timing of Trump’s announcement, right before
his high-profile meeting with Xi Jinping in South Korea, signals the
administration’s focus on addressing nuclear balance in the context of rising
tensions with China and Russia, as reported by Politico. National security
analysts following the story emphasise that a return to live nuclear tests
potentially signals a significant shift in US nuclear policy, with implications
for international arms control and non-proliferation frameworks.
Questions remain about the precise nature and timing of the
tests, as the US military has not immediately clarified how or when the testing
will be implemented.
Trump’s Statement and Social Media Announcement
On Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country. This was accomplished, including a complete update and renovation of existing weapons, during my First Term in office. Because of the tremendous destructive power, I HATED to do it, but had no choice! Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years. Because of other countries’ testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately”.
He did not respond to reporters’ questions about the
announcement ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping.
Broader Regional Security Developments
In related regional tensions, North Korea announced recent missile tests of what it claimed were ‘sea-to-surface’ missiles, and its leader Kim Jong-un presented new missile technologies including short-range ballistic missiles fitted with hypersonic glide vehicles. Trump’s announcement thus occurs amid a broadening cycle of military advancements in nuclear and missile capabilities across several countries.