US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his intention to resume nuclear weapons testing, citing the need to ensure the reliability of the country’s arsenal. In a recent interview, Trump stated that the US must test its nuclear weapons like other countries, emphasizing that the country’s arsenal is capable of “blowing up the world 150 times.” The president’s comments come despite a Congress-mandated moratorium on nuclear testing that has been in place for over three decades.

The last full-scale nuclear explosion conducted by the US was in 1992. Resuming such tests would likely require significant time and investment, with estimated costs running into hundreds of millions of dollars. However, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that the testing ordered by Trump would not involve actual nuclear detonations, but rather “non-critical tests” as part of a broader modernization program.

Trump’s claim that Russia and China are secretly conducting nuclear tests has been disputed, with both countries’ last confirmed nuclear detonations occurring decades ago. Russia’s last test was in 1990, while China’s was in 1996. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia’s recent trials of the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile and the Poseidon underwater drone did not involve nuclear explosions. China’s Foreign Ministry has also urged the US to honor its obligations under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and maintain the global moratorium on nuclear testing.

The issue has sparked debate, with Vice President J.D. Vance and several Republican lawmakers supporting Trump’s initiative, arguing that non-detonative testing is necessary to ensure the reliability of America’s aging nuclear arsenal. Trump has also called for global denuclearization, stating that the US has enough nuclear weapons to “blow up the world 150 times” and that Russia and China also possess significant nuclear arsenals.

The development has significant implications for global nuclear disarmament efforts and the future of international relations. As the US considers resuming nuclear testing, other countries are watching closely, with some expressing concern about the potential consequences of such actions. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving global denuclearization and the need for continued diplomatic efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear conflict.