President Donald Trump has directed the U.S. military to “immediately” resume nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year hiatus and marking a significant shift in U.S. nuclear policy.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump stated: “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 also wrote that the United States has “more Nuclear Weapons than any other country” and warned that China “will be even within 5 years.”
The announcement preceded the president’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, bringing the issue of nuclear strategy into the spotlight amidst rising tensions with other nuclear-armed states.
The U.S. last conducted a full nuclear explosive test in 1992, and it remains unclear whether the renewed testing directive refers to full-scale nuclear detonations, sub-critical tests, or other demonstrations of nuclear capability.
Russian and Chinese officials responded quickly. Russia’s parliament warned the move could herald “a new era of unpredictability,” while China called on the United States to honor its non-proliferation commitments and maintain global strategic stability.
In the United States, some lawmakers and arms-control advocates expressed concern that this decision could undermine the nuclear non-proliferation regime and provoke further nuclear escalation.
The Pentagon has not yet released detailed plans on the scope, location, or timing of the testing, leaving military analysts and international observers awaiting specific clarification.
