President Donald Trump has announced that he has instructed the Pentagon to begin testing nuclear weapons, citing the need to keep pace with other countries’ testing programs. This declaration was made through a post on Truth Social, although specific details regarding the nature of the tests were not provided. It remains unclear if Trump is referring to explosive tests of nuclear warheads or the testing of systems designed for their delivery.
The timing of Trump’s comments coincides with an upcoming meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping, which is anticipated to address various trade issues, including a reduction of tariffs on Chinese imports. This announcement may challenge decades of established U.S. nuclear policy, particularly given that the last nuclear test conducted by the U.S. occurred in 1992, following a moratorium enacted by then-President George H.W. Bush at the end of the Cold War.
Trump’s post contained several inaccuracies, including a claim regarding nuclear stockpiles. Contrary to his assertion, Russia is recognized as having the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. Furthermore, the United Nations has indicated that no country, apart from North Korea, has conducted nuclear tests since the 1990s. Additionally, the United States is a signatory to an international treaty that prohibits nuclear weapon testing, although it has not yet been ratified by the Senate. This raises questions about the implications of Trump’s announcement on U.S. compliance with international agreements concerning nuclear testing.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/809845/trump-us-restart-nuclear-weapons-tests