In a significant development on nuclear weapons testing, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has instructed the Defense Department to “immediately” resume testing of the United States' nuclear arsenal. This decision comes in light of ongoing nuclear testing programs from other countries, particularly Russia and China, raising concerns over global military parity.
President Trump made this announcement via his social media platform, Truth Social, just before his highly anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. “Because of other countries' testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis,” Trump stated. He emphasized that this process would begin immediately, marking a potential shift in U.S. nuclear policy.
The United States has maintained a voluntary halt on nuclear explosive testing since 1992. However, the nation retains the capability to resume such tests at the Nevada National Security Site. During his first term, Trump had previously sought to expand the U.S. nuclear arsenal significantly, aiming for nearly a tenfold increase, as reported by NBC News.
On the same day of Trump’s announcement, Russia revealed the testing of a new long-range nuclear-powered underwater weapon and has conducted tests of a nuclear-capable missile. This escalation of military capabilities has contributed to Trump's rationale for resuming U.S. nuclear tests. In his remarks, he highlighted the need to achieve parity with both Russia and China, stating, “Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years.”
When pressed by reporters regarding his changing plans for nuclear testing, Trump did not provide further clarification, indicating a level of ambiguity about the specifics of the resumption process. Throughout his trip to Asia, he has consistently argued that demonstrating American military strength is a crucial pathway to achieving peace, leveraging tariffs and showcasing U.S. military might as part of his strategy.
As tensions rise globally, Trump's decision to resume nuclear weapons testing marks a pivotal moment in U.S. defense policy. The implications of this move could have significant consequences for international relations, particularly with nations like Russia and China, as the world watches closely.