Trump Says US will Resume Nuclear Weapons Testing

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has directed the Pentagon to immediately begin nuclear weapons testing “on an equal level” with China and Russia.
This marks a historic and controversial shift in American defense policy.

If carried out, this would be the first U.S. nuclear test since 1992, when Washington halted explosive testing after signing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT),though the U.S. has never ratified it.

Trump’s announcement comes just days after he denounced Russia for testing a nuclear-powered missile what the latter described as having “Unlimited Range”.

“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.”

The decision has sparked global alarm. The United Nations and several arms control organizations warned that resuming nuclear tests could trigger a new international arms race and further erode decades of nonproliferation efforts.

Analysts say the move is a direct response to Russia’s and China’s expanding nuclear programs, as both nations have reportedly conducted subcritical or simulated tests in recent years. The White House argued that the U.S. must maintain “strategic parity” to deter aggression and ensure its arsenal remains reliable.

However, critics warn that renewed testing could destabilize global security.

It remains unclear whether the planned testing will involve full-scale nuclear detonations or remain limited to delivery system and warhead verification tests. The Pentagon has not yet released a timeline or detailed testing schedule.

The announcement comes as tensions rise between the world’s nuclear powers, with Washington, Moscow and Beijing all modernizing their arsenals. (Agencies)