President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume testing nuclear weapons after a 33-year pause, announcing the move on social media just ahead of meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
“The United States has more Nuclear Weapons than any other country,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “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 declared.
While returning to Washington after meeting Xi, Trump told reporters it’s “appropriate” for the U.S. to test nuclear weapons “with others doing testing.” He said test sites would be determined later.
Russia successfully tested two nuclear-powered weapons – the Burevestnik cruise missile on Oct. 21 and the Poseidon super torpedo on Oct. 28. It also conducted nuclear launch drills on Oct. 22.
The U.S., which last tested a nuclear weapon in 1992, conducted four tests of the nuclear-capable Trident missiles last month. China’s last known nuke test was in 1996.
“The U.S. has no technical, military, or political reason to resume nuclear explosive testing for the first time since 1992,” said Daryl Kimball, director, Arms Control Association. “It would take least 36 months to resume contained nuclear tests underground at the former test site in Nevada.”
“By foolishly announcing his intention [to] resume nuclear testing, Trump will trigger strong public opposition in Nevada, from all U.S. allies, and it could trigger a chain reaction of nuclear testing by U.S. adversaries, and blow apart the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty,” Kimball added.