Washington: President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing, a move that could end more than three decades of restraint by the United States and spark global concern about a new arms race.
Trump made the announcement through his social media account while traveling to South Korea for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said the decision was necessary because other countries, particularly Russia and China, were advancing their nuclear capabilities.
“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,” Trump said.
The United States last conducted a full nuclear test in 1992, maintaining since then a moratorium under the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which it signed but never ratified. Trump’s directive now raises questions about whether the country could soon carry out explosive underground tests at sites such as Nevada, or limit itself to non-explosive subcritical testing.
The Pentagon has not released details about how or when the testing will begin. Military analysts note that even if approved, it could take months or years to restart full-scale nuclear testing due to technical, environmental, and legal challenges.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened global tensions. Russia recently conducted a series of advanced weapons tests, including its nuclear-powered Poseidon torpedo, while China continues to expand its nuclear arsenal, estimated at around 600 warheads. Experts believe the number could exceed 1,000 by the end of the decade.
Opposition to the decision has already emerged in the United States. Lawmakers from Nevada and several international arms control advocates warned that resuming testing could provoke similar actions by other nuclear powers and erode decades of efforts to limit the spread of nuclear weapons.
The move also coincides with broader U.S. strategic changes in the Asia-Pacific region. Washington recently announced plans to share sensitive nuclear submarine technology with South Korea, signaling a stronger deterrence posture toward China and North Korea.
Analysts see Trump’s decision as both a message of strength and a high-risk shift in global security policy. While the administration argues that renewed testing is vital for national defense and deterrence, critics fear it may trigger a new nuclear arms race, destabilizing international security and undoing years of disarmament progress.
As world leaders prepare for key regional meetings, the coming weeks will reveal whether the United States intends to proceed with actual detonations or use the order as leverage in upcoming diplomatic talks with China and Russia.