U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has ordered the military to resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a moratorium that has lasted more than 30 years. He made the statement on his social‑media platform Truth Social ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The announcement follows Trump’s recent condemnation of Russia for testing a nuclear‑powered missile.
Trump said the decision to restart testing is a response to other countries’ programs. He noted that the United States possesses the largest nuclear arsenal, followed by Russia and then China, which he claimed would “catch up within four or five years.” However, he offered few details about how the policy shift will be implemented, leaving it unclear whether the U.S. will actually detonate warheads. The military already conducts regular tests of missiles capable of delivering nuclear payloads, but the last full nuclear detonation occurred in 1992.
Moscow reacted by stating that all nations are developing their defense systems and that its recent tests were “not nuclear.” The Kremlin warned it would “act accordingly” if the United States breaks the Cold War‑era testing moratorium. China also weighed in, expressing hope that the U.S. will honor its obligations under the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty (CTBT) and continue to suspend testing. Although Washington signed the CTBT, it has not ratified it; the treaty has been observed by all nuclear‑armed states since its adoption, except for North Korea, which last tested a nuclear device in 2017.
The resumption of U.S. nuclear testing could have significant implications for global security and non‑proliferation efforts. The move will be closely monitored by the international community, especially amid rising tensions among major powers. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how other countries will respond and what impact the decision will have on global relations.
Comments are closed for this story.